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LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

RIVERSIDE 


Ex  Libris 
ISAAC  FOOT 


V 


s 


I 


I 


HARRY   COVERDALE'S    COURTSHIP 


Giyz^    -1^.<!y  </2^'/!yJc^ yC<r  //€/\^-rw7iy y/ieaUa.  . 


Harry  Coverdale's 
Courtship 


AND 


ALL   THAT   CAME    OF    IT 


BY 


(prank  e.  smedley) 

AUTHOR  OF  "  FRANK  FAIELEGH,'    "  LEWIS  ARUNDEL,'    ETC. 


"Those  false  alarms  of  strife, 
Between  the  husband  and  the  wife, 
And  little  quarrels,  often  prove 
To  be  but  new  recruits  of  love; 
And  tho'  some  fit  of  small  contest 
Sometime  fall  out  among  the  best, 
That  makes  no  breach  of  faith  and  love, 
But  rather  (sometimes)  serves  t'  improve.' 

BUTLEE. 


NEW  YORK 
NEW    AMSTERDAM    BOOK    COMPANY 

LONDON 

DOWNEY    &    CO.,    Limited 


as  H27 

1900 


LONDON: 
PEIKTBD    BT   GILBERT   AND    EIVINGION,    LTD., 

ST,  John's  house,  cleekbnwell,  k.c. 


CONTENTS 


CEAPTEK  PAGE 

I.      TREATS   OF   THE   PHILOSOPHY   OF   LIFE           ...  1 

II.      AFFORDS       A       SPECIMEN       OF       HARRY's       "  QUIET 

MANNER  "   WITH   HIS   TENANTRY         ....  5 

III.      HAZLEHURST  PLEADS    HIS   CAUSE   AND   WINS   IT           .  11 

IV.      CONTAINS,   AMONG   OTHER    "  EXQUISITE "    SKETCHES, 

A   PORTRAIT   OF   A   PUPPY    (NOT   BY   LANDSEER)      .  16 

V.      PROVES     THE    ADVISABILITY    OF     LOOKING     BEFORE 

YOU  LEAP 21 

VI.      JEST  AND   EARNEST 27 

VII.      WHEREIN   SYMPTOMS   OF   HARRY's  COURTSHIP  BEGIN 

TO  APPEAR  ON   A   STORMY   HORIZON            ...  33 

VIII.      HARRY   CONDESCENDS   TO   PLAY   THE   AGREEABLE        .  38 

IX.      CONTAINS   LITTLE    ELSE    SAVE   MOONSHINE  ...  45 

X.    "equo  ne  credite  teucri." — Yirgil         ...  53 

XI.     "  POST  EQUITEM  SEDET  ATRA  CURA." — Horace  .         .  56 

XII.      HARRY   PUTS   HIS   FOOT    IN   IT 62 

XIII.  "deeper  and  deeper  still" 67 

XIV.  DECIDEDLY  EMBARRASSING 73 

XV.      RELATES       THE       UNEXPECTED      BENEVOLENCE       OF 

HORACE   d'ALMAYNE 79 

XVI.      TREATS   OF   THINGS   IN   GENERAL 84 

XVII.      PLOTTING  AND   COUNTER-PLOTTING       ....  92 

XVIII.     ALICE'S    FIRST    INTRODUCTION    TO    HER    HUSBAND'S 

"quiet  manner" 96 

XIX.     A  COMEDY  OF   ERRORS 106 


vi  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGB 

XX.  THE   MORNING   OF   THE   FIEST   OF   SEPTEMBER            .  109 

XXI.  THE   EVENING   OF   THE   SAME   DAT       ....  112 

XXII.  KATE   SOWS   THE   WIND 117 

XXIII.  ADVICE   GRATIS 122 

XXIV.  A   STORM  BREWING 126 

XXV.  THE   STORM   BURSTS 132 

XXVI.  THE  ATMOSPHERE   REMAINS   CLOUDY  .  .  .135 

XXVII.  THE   PLEASURES   OF   KEEPING   UP   THE   GAME    .          ,  141 

XXVIII.  ALICE   SUCCOURS   THE   DISTRESSED     ....  151 

XXIX.  HOW  TO   MAKE   HOME   HAPPY 158 

XXX.  INTRODUCES   A   LORDLY   GALLANT 163 

XXXI.  SPIDERS  AND   FLIES 168 

XXXII.  A  GLIMPSE   AT   THE   GREEN-EYED   MONSTER       .           .  180 

XXXIII.  TELBMACHUS   AND   MENTOR 184 

XXXIV.  CIRCE 193 

XXXV.  FLOWERS   AND   THORNS 200 

XXXVI.  ARCADIA   IN   THE   NINETEENTH   CENTURY            ,           .  205 

XXXVII.  A  CONCESSION  AND   A   "  PARTIE   CARREE  "           .           .  211 

XXXVIII.  SOME   OF   THE   JOYS   OF   OUR   DANCING   DAYS     .           .  218 

XXXIX.  ARABELLA 229 

XL.  DEEPER  AND   DEEPER   STILL          .           .           .           .           .  237 

XLI.  ADVICE   GRATIS 244 

XLii.  l'embarras  DES  RICHESSES 250 

XLIII.  EATING  WHITEBAIT 257 

XLIV.  LORD     ALFRED     COURTLAND     SOWS     A     FEW     WILD 

OATS 263 

XLV.  THE   OVERTURE   TO   DON   PASQUALE      ....  270 

XLVI.  KATE   BEGINS   TO   REAP   THE   AVHIRLWIND            .           .  275 

XLVII.  A  GLIMPSE   AT   THE   CLOVEN    FOOT       ....  283 

XLVIII.  MAGNANIMITY 289 

XLIX.  ALICE   PERCEIVES   THE   ERROR   OF   HER   WAYS            .  292 

L.  THE   LETTER      .           .          . 297 

LI.  OTHELLO   VISITS   CASSIO 306 

LII.  A  GLEAM   OF   LIGHT 313 


CONTENTS  vii 

CIIAPTEE  PAGK 

LIII.  AFTER   THE   MANNER   OF   "  BELL'S   LIFE  "...  316 

LIV.  SETTLING   PRELIMINARIES 326 

LV.  THE   RACE 331 

LVI.  THE   CATASTROPHE 335 

LVII.  AN   ANONYMOUS   LETTER 339 

LVIII.  DIAMOND   CUT   DIAMOND 343 

LIX.  HORACE   WEATHERS   THE   STORM 350 

LX.  ANXIETY 355 

LXI.  ALICE   APPOINTS   HER   SUCCESSOR 363 

LXII.  MRS.   COVERDALE   THINKS   BETTER   OF   IT         .           .           .  369 

LXIII.  LORD   ALFRED   SEVERS   HIS   LEADING  STRINGS        .           .  375 

LXIV.  d'ALMAYNE    plays    HIS   LAST   CARD            ....  382 

LXV.  SETTLES    EVERYBODY   AND   EVERYTHING           .           .           .  387 


LIST    OF   ILLUSTEATIONS 


A  "  ctit "  not  like  to  be  soon  healed      .        .        .        . 

A  promising  Foru'-year-old 

A  Specimen  of  Harry's  "  Qniet  Manner  "    . 
Unaccountable  Bebaviour  of  Aunt  Sally    . 

A  Fencing  Lesson 

For  the  last  Time 

Han-y's  quiet  manner  of  taking  "  tbe  sby  "  out  of  liim 

Paterfamilias  sbows  bis  Teetb 

Han-y's  first  appearance  as  Romeo      .... 

Getting  up  Steam  ! 

Wife-breaking — (Tbeory) 

Wife-breaking — (Practice) 

Tbe  Crime 

Tbe  Capture 

Alice's  debut  as  Lady  Bountiful 

HigbArt 

L'Inferno 

Paradise 

A  pleasant  Sigbt  for  a  Husband 

An  agreeable  Prospect  for  a  Wife        .... 

Mistrust 

Spitting  a  Spy 

That  dreadful  Leg  of  Mutton ! 

Rejected  Addresses 

Tbe  Wife's  Secret 

A  Clencber 

Starting  from  tbe  Pandemonium         .... 

A  foul  Stroke 

Tbe  tender  Mercies  of  tbe  Wicked       .... 
Hope  deferred 


PAGE 

Frontispiece 

Engraved  title 

face  page 

9 

,, 

19 

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24 

31 

, 

55 

, 

64 

, 

101 

, 

104 

, 

126 

. 

135 

, 

147 

, 

151 

, 

153 

179 

, 

189 

, 

207 

, 

228 

232 

, 

243 

265 

, 

283 

, 

289 

, 

300 

, 

311 

, 

320 

, 

331 

, 

348 

364 

HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT 


CHAPTER  I. 

TREATS   OF   THE   PHILOSOPHY   OP    LIFE. 

Harry  Coverdale  stood  six  feet  one  in  or  oiat  of  his  stockings, 
rode  sometliing  over  eleven  stone,  was  unusually  good,  or,  as  young 
ladies  term  it,  interesting-looking,  numbered  six-and-twenty  years 
last  gi'ass,  and  lived  at  Coverdale  Park  when  he  was  at  home,  with 
five  thousand  a  year  to  pay  for  his  housekeeping,  of  which  he  spent 
about  two.  At  the  happy  moment  in  which  we  have  the  pleasure  of 
introducing  him  to  our  readers  he  was  not  at  home,  at  least  not 
literally,  thoiigh  figuratively  he  appeared  to  be  making  himself  so 
very  decidedly. 

He  had  anived  in  London  that  morning,  and  had  dined  at  his 
club,  and  strolled  down  to  the  Temple  aftei-wards,  where,  finding 
that  his  friend,  Arthur  Hazlehurst,  was  expected  to  return  every 
minute,  he  had  taken  possession  of  his  vacant  chambers,  lighted  a 
cigar,  laid  hands  on  a  number  of  "  The  Sporting  Magazine,"  and 
flinging  himself  at  full  length  on  the  sofa  (sofas  do  occasionally 
appear  in  the  chambers  of  the  briefless),  looked,  and  was,  especially 
comfortable.  He  was  not,  however,  allowed  to  enjoy  his  position  long 
in  peace ;  for  scarcely  had  he  established  himself  when  a  man's  foot- 
step was  heard  running  hastily  up  the  interminable  staircase,  while 
a  quick  eager  voice,  addi*essing  the  small  boy  who  did  duty  for  clerk, 
exclaimed, — 

"  Eh !  a  gentleman  whom  you  don't  know  lying  on  my  sofa  and 
smoking  my  last  cigai" !  that's  coming  to  the  point  and  no  mistake  ; 
cool  though — I  wonder  who  the  deuce  it  can  be — not  a  client,  of 
course. — Ah !  HaiTy,  my  dear  old  boy,  this  is  an  unexpected  pleasure  ; 
why,  I'm  as  glad  to  see  you  as  if  yo\i  were  a  client  almost.  I  thought 
you  were  in  the  Red  Sea,  man,  dredging  for  defunct  Egyptians,  or 
chipping  old  blocks  with  Layard,  or  some  such  slow  thing ;  when  did 
you  retul^rl  ?  " 

Arthur*  Hazlehurst,  the  originator  of  the  foregoing  speech,  was  an 

B 


2  HARRY  CO VERD ALB'S  COURTSHIP 

old  college  chum  of  Coverdale's,  who,  when  his  friend  had  taken  his 
de^-ee  (a  highly  respectable  one)  and  started  on  an  enlarged  edition 
of  the  grand  tour,  had  gone  to  read  \yith  a  special  pleader.  Having 
by  a  special  slice  of  luck  contrived  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  law 
from  that  process,  instead  of  the  more  usual  result  of  learning  how 
to  spend  five  hundred  per  annum  out  of  an  allowance  of  two,  and 
possessing,  moreover,  an  acute  intellect,  and  a  fair  portion  of  industry, 
Arthui'  Hazlehurst  was  looked  upon  as  a  rising  young  man.  In 
appearance  he  was,  for  a  fair  man,  rather  handsome  than  otherwise, 
but  if  his  talent  for  rising  could  have  been  exercised  bodily,  as  well 
as  professionally,  it  would  have  been  as  well  for  him,  for  his  friend 
had  the  advantage  of  him  in  stature  by  some  three  inches ;  his 
manner  and  way  of  speaking  were  quick  and  eager,  and  he  had 
altogether  a  wide-awake  look  about  him,  as  though  he  regarded 
society  at  large  as  perpetually  in  a  witness-box,  and  was  always 
prepared  to  cross-examine  and  be  down  upon  it. 

"I  returned  to  England  some  three  weeks  since,"  replied  Cover- 
dale,  abstracting  the  cigar  from  his  mouth,  and  lazily  flipping  off  the 
ashes  from  the  lighted  end  with  his  finger ;  "  but  I  went  quietly  down 
to  the  Park,  and  hav^e  been  plodding  over  accounts  with  the  agent 
ever  since.  Shocking  bad  tobacco  they  make  you  put  up  with  here ; 
you  shall  try  the  glorious  stuff  I've  brought  back  from  Constanti- 
nople— your  Turk  is  the  boy  to  smoke.  So  you've  become  learned  in 
the  law,  I  hear,  since  I  went  abroad." 

"  Eh !  Yes,  I  believe  I've  picked  up  a  thing  or  two,"  retimied 
Hazlehurst  modestly;  "  I've  found  out  the  great  secret  of  life ;  the 
next  move  is  to  make  the  knowledge  pay,  and  that's  not  so  easy." 

"  I  didn't  laiow  there  was  a  great  secret  to  find  out,"  observed 
Coverdale,  stroking  his  curly  black  whiskers,  "  the  rule  of  life  seems 
easy  enough  to  me — make  up  your  mind  what  you  want  to  do,  and 
then  quietly  do  it — that's  my  recipe." 

"  A  very  good  one  for  you,  my  dear  fellow,  you've  only  to  put  your 
hand  in  your  pocket,  and,  as  your  money  rattles,  difficulties  disappear ; 
but  we're  not  all  boi-n  to  ^65000  a  year,  worse  luck ;  fathers  have 
flinty  hearts,  and  even  the  amenities  of  the  nineteenth  century  hare 
failed  to  macadamize  them — '  I've  given  you  an  expensive  education, 
sir,  and  I  expect  to  see  you  turn  it  to  account.'  That's  about  the 
style  of  blessing  we  inherit  now-a-day  ;  however,  my  secret  of  life  is 
this :  everything  has  a  culminating  point,  and  the  dodge  is  to  hit 
tipon  it  yourself,  and  bring  others  to  it  with  the  least  delay  possible ; 
in  these  four  words — come  to  the  point,  is  embodied  the  whole 
philosophy  of  existence." 

"Well,  yes,  I  dare  say  there  is  something  in  it,"  retui'ned  Cover- 
dale  meditatively,  "  it  never  exactly  struck  me  before,  but  there's  a 
beaiitiful  simplicity  about  it  that  I  rather  admire— a  little  too  rail- 
roadish,  perhaps,  unless  a  man's  in  an  awful  huny;  you  lose  the 
bright  sunny  peeps  and  the  jolly  old  roadside  alehouses  of  life  by 
rushing  so  straight  to  your  object." 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  3 

"  Sunny  nonsenses,"  was  the  uncourteous  rejoinder — "  none  of  your 
old  slow-coaching  days  for  me ;  life's  not  long  enough  for  dreaming 
— Parr's  life  pills  are  a  swindle,  and  Methuselah  died  without  leaving 
his  recipe  behind  him ; — so  come  to  the  point  say  I." 

''  Though  I  won't  promise  to  adopt  your  philosophy  for  a  perma- 
nency, I'll  act  upon  it  for  once,  at  all  events,"  replied  Coverdale, 
smiling  (and  a  nice,  genial,  pleasant  smile  it  was  too,  showing  a 
white,  even  row  of  teeth,  and  lighting  up  a  pair  of  large,  dark, 
intelligent  eyes,  and  making  the  "  smiler  "  look  particularly  hand- 
some). "So  to  come  to  the  point,  I'm  here  to  enlist  you  in  my 
service  for  what  the  women  call  a  '  day's  shopping  '  to-morrow :  I've 
no  clothes  to  my  back,  no  horses  to  ride,  no  dog-cart  to  knock  about 
in — in  fact,  none  of  the  necessaries  of  life ; — then,  having  benefited 
by  your  advice  and  experience,  I  mean  to  carry  you  off  to  Coverdale 
for  a  crack  at  the  rabbits ;  thank  goodness  !  they've  got  the  game  up 
and  the  poachers  down  since  I've  been  abroad:  that  was  the  only 
thing  I  made  a  row  about  when  I  came  into  the  property.  Why, 
there  are  no  preserves  like  the  Coverdale  woods  in  the  county,  and 
yet  my  poor  uncle  never  had  a  pheasant  on  his  table.  Things  are 
rather  different  now,  my  boy,  and  my  only  real  sorrow  at  the  present 
moment  is,  that  there  are  two  whole  months  to  be  got  rid  of  before 
the  first  of  September :  well !  what  do  you  say  to  my  proposal  ?  " 

"  Done,  along  with  you,"  replied  Hazlehurst ;  "but  on  one  condition 
only,  viz.,  that  when  we've  polished  off  the  rabbits,  you'll  come  with 
me  to  the  Grange,  and  make  acquaintance  with  those  members  of 
the  worthy  family  of  Hazlehurst,  whose  virtues  are  as  yet  unknown 
to  you." 

"  You're  very  kind ;  but  you've  a  lot  of  sisters,  or  she-cousins,  or 
some  creatures  of  that  dangerous  nature,  haven't  you  ?  Of  course  I 
mean  no  disparagement  to  the  ladies  of  your  family  in  particular ; 
but  'pon  my  word,  my  dear  feUow,  I  cannot  stand  women  :  in  Turkey 
they  shut  'em  up,  you  know,  so  that  I'm  not  accustomed  to  them ; 
I've  given  up  flii-ting  and  dangling,  and  all  the  rest  of  it,  long  ago  ;  it's 
very  well  for  green  boys,  but  at  my  time  of  life  a  man  has  something 
better  to  think  about : "  and,  as  he  spoke,  Coverdale  flung  the  end 
of  his  cigar  into  the  empty  fireplace,  pitched  "  The  Sporting  Maga- 
zine "  unceremoniously  on  the  table,  and,  looking  at  his  watch, 
continued,  "  It's  eight  o'clock ;  I  took  a  couple  of  stalls  for  the 
'Prophete'  this  morning,  on  the  chance  of  catching  you;  so  jump 
into  a  pair  of  black  trousers  and  let  us  be  ofB." 

"  Not  a  bad  move,"  replied  his  companion,  "  I'll  adorn  and  be  with 
you  in — " 

" '  Einem  augenblick,' "  suggested  the  grand  tourist,  philologically . 

"If  that's  Gei-man  for  the  twinkling  of  a  bed-post,  yes!"  was  the 
rejoinder,  and  in  less  than  ten  minutes  the  friends  descended  the 
staircase  arm-in-arm,  Hazlehurst  leaving  strict  directions  with  the 
small  clerk  to  inform  any  one  who  might  ask  for  him,  that  he  was 
summoned  to  attend  a  very  important  consultation. 


4  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

The  next  day  was  devoted  to  the  piarchase  of  Coverdale's  neces- 
saries of  life.  Owing  to  Hazlehurst's  perseverance  in  bringing  all 
the  tradesmen  to  the  point,  a  vast  deal  of  business  was  transacted, 
and  before  nightfall  Han-y  was  the  fortunate  possessor  of  a  spicy 
dog-cart,  a  blood  mare  to  run  in  it,  who  could  trot  fourteen  miles  an 
hour,  and  really  did  perform  ten  miles  in  that  space  of  time,  equally 
to  her  own  satisfaction  and  to  that  of  her  new  master — two  showy 
saddle-horses,  the  best  being  vip  to  fifteen  stone  with  any  hounds — a 
double-barrelled  gun,  by  a  famous  maker — a  brace  of  thorough-bred 
pointers — and  a  whole  host  of  the  minor  "  necessaries  "  animate  and 
inanimate,  all  of  which,  put  together,  made  a  considerable  hole  in  a 
thousand  pounds  ;  but,  as  Harry  sapiently  obsei'ved,  "  a  man  could  not 
live  in  the  country  without  them,  so  where  was  the  use  of  bothering." 

On  the  following  morning  the  two  young  men  and  all  the  pur- 
chases, horses  included,  started  by  the  Midland  Counties  Railway, 
and  dinner-time  found  them  safely  deposited  at  Coverdale  Park,  a 
fine  old  place,  which,  with  its  pictm-esque  mansion,  beautiful  view, 
and  goodly  extent  of  wood  and  water,  field  and  fell,  was  as  desirable 
a  property  as  any  English  gentleman  need  wish  to  possess.  After 
dinner  the  gamekeeper  was  summoned :  he  was  a  sturdy,  good-looking 
fellow,  who  had  filled  the  post  of  imder- keeper  in  the  time  of  Admiral 
Coverdale  (Harry's  deceased  uncle,  an  old  bachelor,  to  whose  in- 
vincible hatred  of  matrimony  his  nephew  was  indebted  for  his  present 
position).  Harry,  before  he  went  abi-oad,  bad  discovered  the  head- 
keeper  to  be  in  league  with  a  gang  of  poachers,  receiving  a  per- 
centage on  all  the  game  they  sold;  he  had  accordingly  dismissed 
him,  and  elected  his  subordinate  to  fill  the  vacant  situation — an 
experiment  which  had  proved  eminently  successful. 

"  Take  a  glass  of  wine,  Markum ;  this  is  my  friend,  Mr.  Hazle- 
hurst.  We  mean  to  have  a  slap  at  the  rabbits  to-morrow ;  so  be 
here  at  eight  o'clock,  and  then  we  shall  get  a  good  long  day :  any 
more  poachers  since  we  caught  those  last  fellows  ? "  And,  as 
Coverdale  spoke,  he  filled  a  large  claret  glass  to  the  brim  with 
splendid  old  port,  and  handed  it  to  the  keeper,  who  received  it 
bashfully,  and  then,  scraping  with  his  foot  and  ducking  his  head 
twice  with  an  expression  of  coitntenance  as  of  a  sheep  about  to  bvitt, 
replied, — 

"  Your  'ealth,  Mr.  Coverdale,  sir — your  'ealth,  gents  both,"  tossed 
it  oif  at  a  di*aught — "  there  ain't  been  no  reglur  poarchin  a-goin  on, 
sir,"  he  continued,  setting  down  his  glass  as  if  it  bumed  his  fingers, 
and  then  jibbing  away  from  the  table  as  though  he  had  shied  at  it 
"  but  that  'are  young  Styles  has  been  a-shooting  rabids  on  Wild  Acre 
farm,  and  seems  to  say  as  he  considers  he's  a  right  so  to  do." 

"  Styles  ?  who  is  he  ?  "  inquired  Harry,  quickly. 

"  Well,  he's  the  son  of  old  Farmer  Styles,  and  he  used  to  shoot 
just  when  and  where  he  liked  in  the  Admiral's  time,  and  that's  how 
he  fancies  he's  got  a  sort  of  right,  do  you  see,  Mr.  'Enery — that  is, 
Mr.  Coverdale,  sir." 


AND   ALL  THAT   CAME  OF   IT  5 

"  Rabbits  are  not  game,  so  you  can't  touch  him  on  the  score  o£ 
poaching,  Harry ;  but,  to  come  to  the  point,  if  he's  on  your  land 
■without  your  permission,  he's  trespassing,  and  that's  where  you  can 
be  doAvn  upon  him,"  inteiTupted  Hazlehurst,  sententiously. 

"  Then  I  shall  have  the  law  o'  my  side  in  pitching  into  him,  I 
suppose,  sir  ?  "  inquired  Markum,  eagerly. 

"  No,  no,  my  good  fellow ;  I  don't  wish  to  quaiTel  with  any  of  my 
tenantry,  about  here,"  exclaimed  Coverdale  hastily,  "they'll  be 
breaking  pheasants'  eggs,  and  playing  up  all  sorts  of  mischief, — no  : 
we  must  have  nothing  of  that  kind — I'll  s^jeak  to  the  young  man 
myself ;  there's  a  quiet  way  of  doing  these  things,  as  I  must  teach 
you  all.  Good-night;  remember  eight  o'clock  to-moiTow:"  and 
Markum,  looking  sheepish  and  rebuked,  quitted  the  room,  to  tell 
the  tale  in  the  kitchen  with  the  following  reflection  appended,  "  And 
if  that  'are  young  Styles  happens  to  be  as  cheeky  to  master  as  he  is 
to  other  folks,  it  strikes  me  the  quiet  dodge  won't  pay." 


CHAPTER  II. 

AFFORDS   A   SPECIMEN    OF    HARRY's   "  QUIET   MANNER"   WITH    HIS 

TENANTRY. 

By  two  o'clock  next  day,  Coverdale  and  Hazlehm-st  had  walked  for 
some  six  hours,  and  conjointly  taken  the  lives  of  seven  couple  of 
rabbits,  ten  unfortunates  having  fallen  victims  to  the  new  double- 
barrel,  while  Hazlehurst  had  disposed  of  the  remaining  four.  A 
sumptuous  luncheon,  with  unlimited  pale  ale  and  brown  stout, 
awaited  them  at  the  gamekeeper's  cottage,  to  which  repast  they  did 
ample  justice. 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Harry,"  exclaimed  Hazlehurst,  setting  down 
an  empty  tumbler,  "  if  I  eat  any  more  luncheon,  you  will  have  to 
send  me  home  in  a  wheelbarrow,  for  to  walk  I  shall  not  be  able — 
as  it  is,  I  feel  like  an  alderman  after  a  city  feast." 

"  In  that  case,  you'd  require  a  very  capacious  wheelbarrow,  and  I 
should  pity  the  individual  who  had  to  trundle  it.  Come  !  finish  the 
bottle — you  won't  ?  then  I  will — and  now  we'll  be  off^it  strikes  me 
fatigue  has  something  to  do  with  it,  as  well  as  the  luncheon  ;  you've 
been  smoke-diying  in  London,  young  man,  till  you're  out  of  condi- 
tion," retiumed  Coverdale,  laughing,  as  he  remarked  the  stiff  manner 
in  which  his  friend  rose  and  walked  across  the  cottage. 

Another  hour's  striding  through  high  grass  and  fern  proved  the 


6  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

correctness  of  this  assertion  !  for  Hazlehurst,  unaccustomed  to  such 
severe  exercise,  hep^an  to  show  unmistakable  symptoms  of  knocking 
up.  His  friend  observed  him  with  attention — '"  You  really  are  tired, 
Arthur,"  he  said  good-naturedly,  "you'll  be  fit  for  nothing  to-morrow, 
if  you  walk  much  farther.  Go  back,  Markum,  and  send  one  of  your 
boys  for  the  shooting  pony ;  let  him  bring  it  to  us  at  the  bridge  foot 
— I  am  going  over  Wild  Acre  farm  next :  I  shall  try  through  the 
spinney  and  round  the  large  meadow,  so  you  can  cut  across  and  join 
us  again  in  half  an  hour — and,  Markum — wait  one  moment : — What 
sort  of  person  is  this  man  Styles  P  How  should  I  know  him  if  I 
should  happen  to  run  against  him  ?  " 

"  Well,  he  be  a  tall,  broad-shouldered,  roughish-looking  chap, 
rather  an  orkard  customer  for  to  tackle,  Mr.  Coverdale,  sir,  and  he 
generally  have  a  sort  of  cross-bred,  lurcher-like  dog  along  with  him, 
if  you  please,  Mr.  'Enry,  that  is,  Mr.  Coverdale,  sir " — and  so 
saying,  Markum  stai*ted  at  a  swinging  trot  to  execute  his  master's 
wishes. 

"  The  fellow  looks  as  if  he  could  go  on  at  that  pace  for  a  fortnight 
without  turning  a  hair,"  observed  Hazlehui-st,  pausing  to  wipe  his 
brow ;  "  I  never  saw  such  a  cast-iron  animal." 

"  He's  at  it  every  day,  and  that  keeps  him  in  good  order,"  replied 
Coverdale  :  "  but  I've  walked  him  down  before  now,  and  should  not 
wonder  if  I  were  to  do  so  to-day — I'm  just  getting  what  the  jockeys 
call  my  '  second  wind,'  and  am  good  for  the  next  four  hours  at  least 
— ha  !  there's  a  rabbit  sitting,  pull  at  it  when  I  clap  my  hands." 

"  It's  too  long  a  shot  for  me,"  replied  Hazlehm-st,  "  bag  him 
yourself." 

Thus  urged,  Coverdale  brought  his  gun  to  his  shoulder  and  drew 
the  trigger,  but  the  cap  was  a  bad  one,  and  would  not  go  off,  and  his 
second  ban-el  being  loaded  with  small  shot,  in  the  hope  of  picking  up 
a  landrail  (of  which  Markum  had  reported  the  probable  whereabouts), 
the  rabbit  skipped  away  uninjured.  It  had  not  proceeded  ten  paces, 
however,  when  it  sprang  into  the  air,  and  rolled  over  dead — at  the 
same  moment  the  report  of  a  gun  rang  out  from  behind  some  low 
bushes,  and  a  lurcher  dog  dashed  forward,  and  picked  up  the  defunct 
rabbit.  Coverdale's  face  flushed  with  anger,  and  hastily  exchanging 
the  defective  perciission  cap  for  a  sound  one,  he  i-aised  his  gun  with 
the  intention  of  shooting  the  dog;  but,  though  quick-tempered^ 
Hai-ry  was  a  thoroughly  kind-hearted  fellow,  and  a  moment's 
reflection  caused  him  to  relinquish  his  purpose  ;  recovering  his  gun, 
he  muttered — "  Poor  brute,  why  should  I  kiD  it  ? — it's  not  his  fault, 
but  his  master's." 

As  he  spoke  a  tall  figure  rose  from  behind  the  bushes,  whence 
the  shot  had  proceeded,  and  whistling  to  the  dog,  took  the  rabbit 
from  him,  and  put  it  in  the  pocket  of  a  voluminous-skirted  shooting- 
jacket. 

"  That's  the  redoubtable  Mr.  Styles, '  in  propria  persona,'  I  imagine," 
obBerved  Hazlehurst. 


AND  ALL  THAT   CAME   OF   IT  7 

"  And  a  cool  hand  he  seems  too,"  returned  Coverdale,  scowling  at 
the  delinquent,  who  stood  quietly  reloading  his  gun,  as  though  he 
were  "  monarch  of  all  he  surveyed," — "  however,  I'm  not  going  to 
lose  my  temper  about  it;  it's  a  great  object  with  me,  just  now,  to 
conciliate  all  the  neighbouring  farmers." 

"  Then  are  you  going  to  give  him  '  carte  blanche '  to  spiflicate  rabbits 
when  and  where  he  likes  P  "  inquired  his  fi-iend. 

'■  Not  a  bit  of  it !  "  was  the  reply,  "  I  mean  to  put  a  stop  once  for 
all  to  such  practices ;  but  there  is  a  quiet  way  of  managing  these 
matters  quite  as  effectual  as  putting  oneself  into  a  rage." 

"  Don't  be  a  week  about  it,  that's  all— come  to  the  point  at  once, 
there's  a  good  fellow,  for  I  want  to  knock  over  another  rabbit  or  two 
before  my  Bucephalas  arrives,"  rejoined  Hazlehurst. 

Thus  urged,  Coverdale  advanced  towards  the  stranger,  and 
slightly  raising  his  wide-awake  as  he  approached  him,  said  with  an 
air  of  Grandisonian  politeness — "  Mr.  Styles,  I  presume  P  " 

"  Yes,  young  man,  my  name's  Styles.  What's  yourn  ?  "  was  the 
unceremonious  reply. 

He  does  not  know  me,  thought  Harry  :  now  for  astonishing  him — 
rather!  "My  name,  sir,  is — ahem! — Henry  Coverdale,  of  Coverdale 
Park,  at  your  service."  He  paused  to  watch  the  effect  of  this 
announcement.  Ha !  I  thought  so,  he  trembles,  he  is — why,  con- 
found the  scoundi'el !  I  do  believe  he's  giinning — he  can't  have 
Tinderstood  me — "  My  name  is  Coverdale,  I  say,  sir." 

"  Well,  then,  Mr.  Coverdale,  if  that's  your  name,  the  sooner  you 
take  yourself  back  to  Coverdale  Park  the  better  I  shall  be  pleased, 
for  I'm  a  shooting  rabbits,  and  your  jabbering  scares  the  creeturs," 
was  the  astounding  rejoinder. 

Coverdale  could  scarcely  believe  his  ears ;  however,  he  contrived 
by  a  strong  effort  to  subdue  his  rising  passion,  as  he  answered,  "  If, 
as  I  imagine,  you  are  the  son  of  old  Farmer  Styles,  of  Wild  Acre, 
you  must  be  aware,  sir,  that  the  farm  your  father  rents  is  my  pro- 
perty, and  that  the  rabbits  you  are  shooting  are  my  rabbits ;  I  must, 
therefore,  trouble  yoii  to  hand  over  the  one  you  have  just  killed,  and 
to  abstain  from  shooting  entirely,  except  on  any  occasion  when  I  may 
invite  you  to  join  me,  or  otherwise  give  you  permission." 

"  I  knows  this,  that  father  and  I  have  got  thirty  years'  lease  to 
run,  and  that  when  I  wants  a  day's  rabbiting,  I  means  to  take  it, 
whether  you  likes  it,  or  whether  you  doesn't.  Why,  the  old  Admiral 
never  said  a  word  agen  it ;  but  he  was  something  like  a  gentleman, 
he  was  !  "  was  the  surly  answer. 

Harry's  eyes  flashed  fire.  "  Do  you  mean  to  insinuate  that  I 
am  not  one  then,  fellow  P  "  he  asked  in  a  voice  that  trembled  with 
passion. 

"And  suppose  I  does,  what  then?  feller!"  returned  the  other 
insolently. 

"  This ! "  was  the  reply,  as  springing  hastily  forward,  Coverdale 
struck  Styles  so  violent  a  blow  on  the  cheek  with  the  back  of  his 


8  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

open  hand,  that  he  staggered  and  nearly  fell ; — recoverinof  himself 
with  difficulty,  and  holdino;  one  hand  to  his  injured  jaw,  he  muttered 
with  an  oath,  "  If  it  wasn't  for  the  confounded  guns,  I'd  give  you  the 
heai-tiest  thrashing  ever  you  had  in  your  life." 

"  Or  get  one  youi-self ,"  replied  Harry,  now  thoroughly  roused ; 
"  but,  if  you're  at  all  inclined  that  way,  don't  disturb  yourself  about 
the  guns ;  if  you  will  discharge  yours,  I  and  imy  fi-iend  will  do  the 
same  by  oui'S,  it's  only  wasting  a  charge  or  two  of  powder  " — and,  as 
he  spoke,  he  fired  both  barrels  in  the  air.  Styles  paused  a  moment, 
to  assui'e  himself  that  no  stratagem  was  contemplated,  and  then  dis- 
charged his  gun  also,  while  Hazlehurst,  having  glanced  at  his  friend 
with  an  expression  of  the  deepest  astonishment,  hastened  to  follow 
their  example.  At  this  moment  the  clatter  of  a  horse's  hoofs  was 
heard,  and  Markum,  the  keeper,  cantered  up  on  the  shooting  pony. 
"  Ah !  that's  right !  "  exclaimed  Coverdale,  who  appeared  suddenly 
to  have  regained  his  good  temper — "  tie  the  pony  up  to  a  tree  and 
come  here.  Hazlehurst,  you  will  pick  me  up  if  I  require  it,  and 
Markum  will  do  the  same  kind  office  by  Mr.  Styles,  and  I  don't  intend 
him  to  have  a  sinecure  either,"  he  added. '  sotto  voce.' 

"  Tou  don't  mean  seriously  you're  going  to  fight  the  fellow  ? " 
inquired  Hazlehurst. 

"  Indeed,  I  do,  and,  what's  more,  nobody  shall  prevent  me,  unless 
he  shows  the  white  feather,"  was  the  positive  answer. 

"  But — bvit  you'll  get  knocked  about  so :  besides,  the  brute's  a 
bigger,  heavier  man  than  you,  and  as  strong  as  an  elephant. 
Suppose  he  should  injiu-e  you,"  remonstrated  Hazlehurst. 

"He  may  if  he  can,"  was  the  confident  reply;  "why,  Arthm*, 
you're  as  nervous  as  a  girl ;  this  is  not  the  first  time  you've  seen  me 
use  my  fists,  and  I've  taken  lessons  from  Ben  Gaunt  since  the  old 
Eton  days." 

"  Go  in  and  win,  then,  if  you  will  make  a  fool  of  yom-self,"  rejoined 
Hazlehurst  moodily,  as  he  helped  his  friend  to  divest  himself  of  his 
shooting- jacket  and  waistcoat. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Styles,  I'm  at  your  service,"  remarked  Coverdale, 
addressing  his  antagonist  politely. 

"So  you  mean  fighting,  do  you?"  inquired  Styles,  half  in- 
credulously. 

"  I  mean  to  try  and  give  you  the  thrashing  with  which  you  have 
threatened  me,"  was  the  reply. 

"  And  if  you  do,  I'll  promise  never  to  shoot  another  rabbit  without 
your  permission ;  but  if  I'm  best  man,  blest  if  I  don't  smash  'em 
when  and  where  I  likes,"  was  the  rejoinder. 

"  It's  a  bargain,"  returned  Coverdale,  "  so  come  on." — As  his 
antagonist  bared  his  brawny  arms  and  muscular  throat,  Harry  felt 
that,  if  his  skill  were  at  all  commensurate  with  his  strength,  he  had 
cut  himself  out  a  somewhat  troublesome  task,  and  he  l>egan  to  own, 
in  his  secret  soul,  that  Hazlehurst  was  right,  and  that  he  was  about 
to  do  a  very  foolish  thing.    However,  he  had  great  confidence  in  his 


51* 


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1 


10  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

Hazlehurst,  producing  a  pocket-flask,  and  applying  it  to  the  lips  of 
the  vanquished  Styles.  At  first  the  patient  seemed  inclined  to  resist ; 
bnt  as  soon  as  he  tasted  the  flavour  of  the  contents  of  the  pocket- 
pistol,  he  raised  his  hand,  and  pushing  aside  Hazlehurst's  fingers, 
drained  it  to  the  bottom. 

"  Gently,  my  friend,"  remonstrated  the  young  barrister,  "  that's 
Kinahan's  best  whisky — fortunately  I  supplied  the  vacuum  created 
at  luncheon  with  spring  water.  Ah,  I  thought  as  much,  that's  the 
true  '  elixir  vitas,' "  he  continued,  as  Styles,  relinquishing  the  flask,  sat 
up  and  began  to  stare  wildly  about  him. 

"Styles,  my  good  fellow;  how  do  you  feel  now?  You  were 
stunned,  you  know ;  but  I  shall  be  vei-y  soiTy  if  I've  hui-t  you  ? " 
observed  Coverdale,  good-natxu-edly.  As  he  spoke.  Styles  tunned  and 
regarded  him  attentively,  measimng  his  tall,  active  figure  with  his 
glance  from  top  to  toe.  At  length  he  muttered,  "WeU,  I  didn't 
think  he  had  it  in  him,  that  I  didn't ;  "  he  then  rubbed  his  head,  with 
a  look  of  thorough  perplexity,  once  more  fixing  his  eyes  on  his  late 
opponent,  as  if  he  were  some  strange  monster,  wonderful  to  behold : 
having,  apparently,  satisfied  himself  that  he  was  a  real  flesh  and 
blood  man.  and  not  some  new-fangled,  cast-iron  boxing-machine,  he 
turned  to  the  gamekeeper,  observing,  "  Markum,  lend  us  a  fin,  old 
man,  for  I  feels  precious  staggery-like,  I  can  tell  you.  Tour  guv'nor 
hits  hard."  On  obtaining  the  required  assistance,  he  rose,  not  with- 
out difficulty,  approached  Coverdale,  and  holding  out  a  hand  some- 
what smaller  than  a  shoulder  of  mutton,  said,  "  Shake  hands,  sir, 
you're  a  gentleman,  and  what's  far  more  in  my  eyes,  you're  a  man 
every  inch  of  you,  and  I  humbly  begs  your  pardon  for  insulting  of 
you." 

"  Say  no  more  about  it,  my  good  friend,"  returned  Coverdale, 
heartily  shaking  his  proffered  hand,  "we  did  not  understand  each 
other  before,  but  we  do  now,  and  shall  get  on  capitally  for  the  future 
I  don't  doubt." 

"  I  shan't  disturb  your  rabbits  again,  sir,"  continued  the  penitent 
Styles,  entirely  subdued  by  Coverdale's  hearty  manner,  "  and  if  the 
creeturs  should  do  any  damage  to  the  crops,  why  I  know  a  gentleman 
like  you  will  bear  it  in  mind  on  the  rent-day." 

"  Certainly,"  was  the  eager  reply ;  "  my  object  now  is  to  get  up 
the  game,  and  no  tenant  who  assists  me  in  this  will  find  me  a  hard 
landlord." 

And  so,  after  an  amicable  colloquy,  they  parted  the  best  friends 
imaginable ;  Styles  observing,  as  he  turned  to  go,  "  I  did  not  think 
there  was  a  man  living  who  could  have  sewn  me  up  in  ten  minutes 
like  that;  but  you  are  imaccountable  quick  with  yoiu-  fists,  to  be 
sure,  Mustur  Coverdale." 

"  Pray,  Hari-y.  is  this  to  l)e  considered  a  specimen  of  your  '  quiet 
manner '  with  your  tenantry  ? "  inquired  Hazlehurst  dryly,  as  he 
bestrode  the  broad  back  of  his  shooting  pony. 

His  friend  coloured  as  he  replied  with  a  forced  laugh,  "  "Well,  I 


AND  ALL   THAT  CAME  OF  IT  11 

must  confess  that  for  once  in  my  life  I  a  little  lost  temper ;— but  you 
see,  old  boy,"  he  continued,  bringing  his  hand  down  upon  Hazlehurst's 
knee  with  a  smack  which  caused  that  delicate  youth  to  spring  up  in 
his  saddle — "  but  you  see  I  managed  to  conciliate  him  after  aU." 


CHAPTER  III. 

HAZLEHURST   PLEADS   HIS   CAUSE   AND   WINS   IT. 

"And  the  worst  of  it  is  the  fellow's  right — what  a  bore  life  is — 
confound  everything ! — "  As  he  gave  utterance  to  this  sweeping 
anathema,  HaiTy  Coverdale  lifted  a  shaggy  Scotch  terrier  by  the 
ears  out  of  an  easy  chair  wherein  it  was  reposing,  and  flinging  him- 
self on  the  seat  thus  made  vacant,  waited  disconsolately  till  Hazle- 
hurst  should  have  finished  a  letter,  which,  with  uuwontedly  grave 
brow,  he  was  perusing. 

Having  continued  his  occupation  till  his  friend's  small  stock  of 
patience  was  becoming  well-nigh  exhausted,  Hazlehiu'st  closed  the 
epistle,  muttering  to  himself — "  Well !  they  know  best,  I  siippose— 
but  I  don't  admire  the  scheme,  aU  the  same — "  then,  tunaing  towards 
his  companion,  he  continued  aloud — "  I  beg  yoiu-  pardon,  my  dear 
fellow !  but  the  governor's  letter  contains  a  budget  of  family  politics, 
which  is,  of  coui*se,  moi'e  or  less  interesting  to  me,  especially  as,  in 
the  event  of  certain  contingencies,  he  talks  of  increasing  my  allow- 
ance.    But  you're  looking  sentimental — what's  the  matter  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  nothing,"  was  the  reply,  "  only  that  fellow  Markum  has  been 
boring  about  the  rabbits ;  he  says  we've  woiked  them  quite  enough, 
and  that  the"  foxes  will  be  pitching  into  the  pheasants  if  they  can't 
get  plenty  of  rabbits  to  eat,  and  that  so  much  shooting  will  make 
the  birds  wild  before  the  1st. — I  know  it  as  well  as  he  does— there 
ought  not  to  be  another  gun  fired  on  the  property  till  the  1st  of 
September.  But  then  what  is  a  fellow  to  do  with  himself  ?  I  might 
go  to  Paris— but  I've  been  there  and  done  it  aU — besides,  I  hate  their 
dissipation,  it  bores  me  to  death ;  London  is  empty,  and  if  it  wasn't, 
it's  worse  than  Paris — more  smoke  and  less  fun.  I'd  start  to 
America,  and  do  Niagara,  and  all  the  other  picturesque  dodges, 
only,  if  the  wind  were  to  turn  restive,  or  anything  go  wrong  in  the 
boiler-bursting  line.  I  might  be  delayed  and  miss  the  first  day  of 
partridge-shooting,  so  it  would  not  do  to  risk  it.'' 

"  By  no  means,"  rejoined  Hazlehurst,  shaking  his  head  with  an  air 
of  mock  solemnity — "but  luckily  I've  a  better  plan  to  propose;  I 


12  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

must  make  my  way  home  at  once — you  shall  come  with  me,  and  stay 
till  we  are  all  mutually  tired  of  each  other." 

"  But  your  father  and  mother?  "  urged  Coverdale. 

"Are  more  anxious  than  I  am  on  the  subject.  Read  that,  you 
unbelieving  Jew!"  So:  saying,  Hazlehm-st  turned  down' a  portion 
of  his  letter,  and  handed  it  to  Coverdale ;  it  ran  thus — "  Mind  you 
bring  your  friend  with  you ;  independently  of  our  desire  to  become 
acquainted  with  one  who  has  shown  you  such  unvarying  kindness, 
Mr.  Coverdale  is  just  the  person  to  make  up  the  party." 

"  Yes,  they're  very  kind,"  began  Coverdale,  returning  the  letter, 
"  very  kind,  but — " 

"  But  what,  man,"  rejoined  Hazlehurst  quickly,  "  we  want  you  to 
come  to  us ;  you  have  not  only  no  other  engagement,  but  actually 
don't  know  what  to  do  with  yourself,  and  yet  you  hesitate.  How- 
ever, to  come  to  the  point  at  once,  I  ask  you  plainly,  and  expect  a 
plain  answer— where's  the  hitch  ?  " 

"  Well  done,  most  leai'ned  coiinsel,  that  is  the  way  to  browbeat  a 
witness,  and  no  mistake,"  replied  Coverdale,  laughing  at  his  friend's 
vehemence ;  "  however,  I  won't  provoke  any  farther  display  of  your 
forensic  talents  by  attempting  to  prevaricate.  The  fact  is,  I  know 
you've  a  bevy  of  sisters,  she-cousins,  and  what  not,  very  charming 
girls,  I  daresay ;  but  yoii  see  I'm  not  fit  for  women's  society,  and 
that's  the  truth  of  it — I've  chosen  my  line — I  know  what  suits  me 
best — and  I  daresay  I  shall  live  and  die  a  bachelor,  as  the  old 
Admiral  did  before  me.  I  know  what  women  are,  and  what  they 
expect  of  one ;  if  a  fellow  happens  to  be  a  little  bit  rough  and  ready, 
they  call  him  a  bear,  and  vow  he's  got  no  soul ;  'gad,  that's  what  the 
Turks  say  of  them,  by-the-bye ! — Poetical  justice  ;  eh  ?  " 

"  My  dear  boy,  you'll  excuse  my  saying  so,  but  you  really  are  talk- 
ing great  nonsense,"  interrupted  Hazlehiirst ;  "  you're  a  thorough 
gentleman  in  mind,  manners,  and  appearance,  if  I  know  the  meaning 
of  the  term,  and  neither  my  sisters,  nor  my  cousin  (there  is  but  one), 
have  such  bad  taste  as  to  prefer  a  finical  fop  to  a  fine  manly  fellow 
like  yourself — no,  they're  more  likely  to  fall  into  the  other  extreme." 

"  And  that  would  be  the  worst  of  the  two  by  long  odds,"  exclaimed 
Harry  aghast ;  "  only  fancy  me  with  a  wife  in  the  shooting- season — 
bothering  me  to  stay  at  home  with  her,  or  to  drive  her  out  in  a 
four-wheeled  arm-chair  with  a  pair  of  little  hopping  rats  of  ponies, 
that  the  best  whip  in  the  thi'ee  kingdoms  could  not  screw  above  six 
miles  an  hour  out  of,  if  he  were  to  flog  their  hides  off ;  or,  worse  still, 
to  take  me  boxed  up  in  a  close  carriage  to  call  upon  somebody's 
grandmother,  and  I  breaking  my  heart  all  the  time  to  be  blazing 
away  at  the  partridges.  I  know  what  it  is— I  was  staying  down  in 
Leicestershire,  before  I  went  abroad,  with  poor  Phil  Anderton,  as 
staunch  a  sportsman,  and  as  thoroughly  good  a  fellow,  as  ever  drew 
trigger,  before  he  married  Lady  Mirvinia  Bluebas.  Well,  they  hadn't 
been  coupled  six  months  before  she'd  got  him  so  tight  in  hand  that 
he  daren't  smoke  a  cigar  without  a  special  licence.    The  first  season, 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME   OF  IT  13 

she  let  him  shoot  Wednesdays  and  Fridays,  and  hunt  Thursdays 
and  Satiirdays.  The  next  year  she  made  him  sell  off  his  ^iins,  dogs, 
and  horses,  and  carried  him  over  to  the  Continent.  What  was  the 
result? — why,  the  poor  fellow  became  so  bored  and  miserable,  that 
he  took  to  gamblinff,  lost  every  farthing  he  had  in  the  world  at 
roulette,  and — didn't  blow  his  brains  out ;  so  my  lady  has  the  pleasm-e 
of  keeping  him,  and  living  herself,  upon  five  hundi'ed  a  year  pin- 
money." 

"Verdict,  served  her  right" — observed  Hazlehurst  judicially; 
"  but  you  forget,  my  dear  boy,  that  Anderton,  though  a  good  fellow 
enough  in  his  way,  was  made  of  such  yielding  materials,  that  anybody 
could  do  what  they  liked  with  him — rather  soft  here,"  he  continued, 
tapping  his  forehead  ;  "  now  you  have  got  sterner  stuff  in  you,  and  if 
a  woman  were  to  try  it  on  with  you  in  that  style,  it  strikes  me  she'd 
find  her  master." 

"  Ah  !  I  don't  know,"  sighed  Coverdale  reflectively  :  "  it's  easier  to 
talk  about  managing  women  han  to  do  it — they've  got  a  way  with 
'em,  at  least  the  pleasant  ones  have,  of  coming  over  a  fellow  some- 
how, and  making  him  fancy  for  the  moment  (it  doesn't  last,  mind 
you — and  there's  the  nuisance  of  it)  that  he'd  rather  do  Avhat  they 
wish  him,  than  what  he  wants  to  do  himself.  Then  again,  if  a  man 
offends  you,  you  can  quietly  knock  him  do^vn,  and  if  he  feels 
aggrieved,  he  can  have  you  out  (not  that  I  admire  duelling) ;  bx;t  if 
you  quaiTel  with  a  woman,  there's  no  '  dernier  resort,'  you  can't  knock 
her  down,  poor  weak  thing,  and  so  you're  reduced  to  growl  like  a 
dog,  and  she  to  spit  like  a  cat,  and  you  leave  off  as  you  began,  with- 
out having  attained  any  definite  result." 

"  I  have  heard  of  such  a  thing  as  moral  force,"  suggested  Hazle- 
hurst ironically. 

"  That's  one's  only  chance,"  returned  Coverdale,  "  though  it  is  one 
that,  to  speak  seriously  and  sensibly,  I've  tolerably  strong  faith  in. 
A  fellow  miTst  be  wanting  in  manliness  of  chai-acter,  if  he  cannot 
contrive  to  manage  a  woman  by  moral  force,  as  you  call  it ;  there's 
a  quiet  way  of  doing  that  as  well  as  everything  else,  only  it's  such  a 
confoimdedly  slow  process." 

"  No  making  'em  to  come  to  the  point,  eh  ?  "  rejoined  Hazlehui-st ; 
"  Well,  I  have  my  own  ideas  about  it ;  how  they  would  work,  remains 
to  be  proved ;  but  as  you've  such  splendid  theories  on  the  subject, 
don't  pretend  you're  unfitted  for  woman's  society.  Why,  man,  you're 
equal  to  a  whole  seminary  of  young  ladies — your  '  quiet  manner ' 
would  prove  as  irresistible  with  them  as  it  did  with  the  redoubtable 
Mr.  Styles." 

By  way  of  reply  to  this  impertinent  allusion,  Coverdale  shook  his 
clenched  fist  (which  still  bore  traces  of  his  late  encounter)  in  his 
friend's  face  with  a  pseudo-threatening  gesture.  Hazlehurst  sprang 
back  in  pretended  alarm,  with  so  sudden  a  movement  as  to  arouse 
the  Scotch  terrier  from  his  nap,  who,  waking  up  in  a  fright, 
immediately  recun-ed  to  his  leading  idea  that  there  were  thieves  in 


14  HARRr  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

the  house,  and  rushed  to  the  door  barking  furiously.  When  the 
laughter,  which  this  little  incidenb  excited,  had  in  some  degree 
abated,  Hazlehvirst  resumed, — 

"  But  seriously,  Harry,  I  want  you  to  come  home  with  me,  and  I'll 
tell  you  in  confidence  why.  You  and  I  have  known  each  other  from 
the  time  we  were  schoolboys  tos^ether,  and  though,  as  in  re  Styles, 
you  act  a  little  hastily  sometimes,  there  is  no  man  on  whose  clear 
judgment  and  high  principle  I've  greater  reliance  than  on  yours. 
I've  received  a  letter  from  home  this  morning,  which  has  annoyed 
me  more  than  I  can  tell  you.  To  come  to  the  point  at  once,  the 
case  stands  thus : — My  father's  pet  weakness  (rather  a  creditable 
one)  is  family  pride ;  now,  the  Grange  has  belonged  to  the 
Hazlehiu'sts  for  the  last  three  hundred  years,  but  in  my  great- 
grandfather's time  the  estate  became  woefully  diminished — the 
old  scamp  was  a  regular  wild  one,  and  not  only  made  ducks  and 
drakes  of  everything  he  could  lay  hands  on,  but  as  soon  as 
my  grandfather  came  of  age,  induced  him  to  cut  ofE  the  entail, 
and  sold  the  best  half  of  the  family  property ;  some  of  this 
my  gi'andfather  contrived  to  redeem  in  his  lifetime,  and  my 
Governor  has  been  scheming  and  screwing  all  his  days  in  order  to 
buy  back  the  rest.  In  an  evil  hour  he  was  induced  to  invest  his 
savings  in  a  railroad,  hoping  to  attain  his  object  sooner ;  of  course 
it  paid  beautifully  at  first ;  of  course  in  due  time  a  crash  came,  and 
the  pater  not  only  lost  all  his  savings,  but  was  forced  to  sell  a  farm 
of  five  hundred  acres,  dear  to  him  as  the  apple  of  his  eye.  The  in- 
dividual who  purchased  it,  and  who  owns  the  property  my  great- 
grandfather sold,  is  a  certain  millionaire  cotton  spinner,  as 
rich  as  Croesus ;  the  fellow  is  said  to  have  .£20,000  a  year.  "Well, 
since  the  railroad  affair,  a  jolly  old  aunt  has  died,  and  left  the 
Governor  some  tin.  and  he's  breaking  his  heart  to  buy  back  the 
farm,  but  cotton  spinner  refuses  to  sell.  Now,  at  the  last  Hunt  Ball, 
my  eldest  sister  came  out — she  is  very  pretty,  and  a  nice,  taking 
sort  of  girl  in  society — and  said  cotton  spinner  came,  saw,  and  was 
conquered !  so  much  so,  that  having  offered  serious  intentions  ever 
since,  he  has  ended  by  offering  himself.  Thereupon  arose  a  difference 
of  opinion  between  Alice  and  the  Governor — Alice  pleading  that  she 
didn't  love  cotton  spinner  one  bit,  and  didn't  expect  she  ever  should 
do  so,  and  Governor  declaring  that  it  was  all  sentimental  bosh,  and 
that  if  she  manned  the  man.  as  much  love  as  it  was  at  all  proper  for 
a  young  lady  to  feel,  would  come  afterwards.  At  last,  they  made  a 
compromise — Alice  was  to  consent  to  see  more  of  Mr.  Crane,  and  do 
her  best  to  like  him,  in  which  case,  said  Crane  would  allow  her  to 
postpone  her  decision  till  a  future  period  :  to  this  Alice  was  fain  to 
consent,  and  now  the  suitor  is  coming  to  the  Grange,  on  approval, 
and  the  Governor's  asked  a  party  of  people  to  meet  him." 

"  And  how  do  you  stand  affected  towards  the  proposed  alliance  ?  " 
inquired  Coverdale,  lifting  the  Skye  terrier  into  his  lap  by  the  nape 
of  its  neck,  and  then  curling  it  up  like  a  fried  whiting. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        15 

"  Not  over  favourably,"  returned  Hazleliui'st,  "  which,  by  the  way, 
is  very  disinterested  of  me ;  for  if  the  affair  comes  off,  and  the 
Governor  buys  his  farm  back  ag^ain — which  of  course  is  what  he  is 
looking  to — he  promises  to  settle  the  residue  of  the  aunt's  legacy 
upon  me,  by  which  I  should  be  some  ^200  a  year  the  better ;  but  it 
would  not  be  a  match  to  please  me.  I'm  very  fond  of  Alice ;  she  is  a 
dear  good  girl  as  ever  lived,  and  I  don't  admire  the  cotton  spinner : 
in  the  first  place,  he's  nearly  or  quite  forty,  while  she  was  nineteen 
last  term ;  in  the  second  place,  he's  a  slow  coach,  good-natured 
enough,  and  all  that,  but  notliing  in  him." 

"  No  soul,"  suggested  Harry. 

"  Not  enough  to  animate  a  kitten,  I  should  imagine,"  was  the 
reply; — "not  that  the  man's  a  fool — indeed,  in  his  own  line  he  is 
said  to  be  clever.  He  invented  some  dodge  to  simplify  his  machinery, 
by  which  he  nearly  doubled  his  fortune." 

"  That  was  decidedly  clever  " — remarked  Harry,  busily  engaged  in 
dressing  the  "  Skye  "  in  a  muslin  "  anti-macassar,"  placed  clean  upon 
the  sofa  that  morning. 

"  To  come  to  the  point,  however,"  continued  Hazlehurst — "  I  want 
you  to  see  the  man,  and  try  and  find  out  what  he's  made  of." 

"  Fool's-flesh  probably,"  suggested  Coverdale  '  sotto  voce.' 

"  I  wish  you  would  try  and  be  serious  for  five  minutes,"  returned 
Hazlehurst  testily ;  "  nothing  is  more  provoking  than  small  attempts 
at  wit,  when  one  wants  a  man  to  give  his  attention  sensibly  to  that 
which  one  is  saying." 

"I  stand,  or  more  properly  sit,  connected:  so  continue,  most 
sapient  and  sm-ly  brother !  "  was  the  mocking  answer. 

Hazlehurst  tried  to  look  angry  and  dignified,  but  a  glance  at  his 
friend's  handsome,  meny,  and,  withal,  slightly  impudent  face,  dis- 
armed his  wrath,  and  muttering — "  Confound  you  for  a  stupid, 
provoking  old  humbug  " — he  burst  into  a  fit  of  laughter.  As  soon 
as  he  had  recovered  his  gravity,  he  resumed :  "  As  I  said  before,  I 
want  you  to  come  and  make  youi-  observations  on  the  cotton  spinner, 
and  if  your  opinion  agrees  with  mine,  you  must  back  me  up  in 
making  a  serious  remonstrance  with  the  Governor.  I  know  the  old 
gentleman  well,  and  am  sure  he'll  think  twice  as  much  of  what  I  say 
when  he  finds  that  you,  a  man  of  the  world  and  a  large  landed 
proprietor  (that'll  tell  with  hira  immensely)  look  upon  the  matter 
in  the  same  light.  And  now  you  know  my  reasons,  what  do  you 
say  ?  " 

"  Say !  what  can  I  say  but  that  I — ahem  ! — respect  the  sacred  call 
of  friendship,  and  am  prepared  to  sacrifice  nayself  upon  its  altar : 
that's  the  correct  phraseology,  isn't  it  ?  I  tell  you  what,  though," 
continued  Harry  gravely,  "  I  make  one  condition,  without  which  I 
don't  stir  a  peg :  I'm  at  your  service  and  that  of  the  cotton  spinner, 
as  much  as  you  please ;  but  beyond  the  requirements  of  society,  I'm 
not  to  be  expected  to  concern  myself  about  the  women — I'm  not  to 
be  forced  into  '  tete-a-tdte '  drives  in  pony-chaises,  or  set  to  turn  over 


16  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

mnsic-books  at  the  piano — I  know  what  all  that  sort  o£  thing  leads 
to  well :  is  it  a  bargain  ?  " 

"  Of  course  it  is,"  returned  Hazlehurst  eagerly  ;  "  come  to  please 
me,  and  I  leave  you  to  please  yourself  when  you  get  there." 

"  Then,  as  Sam  Weller  says,  '  Tou  may  take  down  the  bill,  for  I'm 
let  to  a  single  gentleman,' "  was  Coverdale's  reply — and  so  the  affair 
was  settled. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CONTAINS,   AMONG   OTHER   "  EXQUISITE  "   SKETCHES,   A   PORTRAIT 
OF   A   PUPPY    (not   by   LANDSEER). 

Hazlehurst  Grange  was  a  picturesque  old  mansion,  modernized 
out  of  all  resemblance  to  its  moated  namesake  which  Tennyson  has 
immortalized,  by  the  addition  of  gay  flower-beds,  closely-shaven 
lawns,  judiciously -planted  shrubberies,  and  other  appliances  of  land- 
scape gardening.  It  was  situated  about  eighteen  miles  from  Cover- 
dale  Park,  a  distance  which  Harry's  trotting  mare,  who  had  grown 
plump  and  saucy  upon  rest  and  good  keep,  accomplished,  to  her 
owner's  intense  satisfaction,  in  less  than  five  minutes  over  the  hour 
and  a  half. 

"  Pretty  fair  travelling  that,  eh,  Master  Arthm',"  he  observed, 
replacing  his  watch  in  his  waistcoat  pocket,  "  and  what  I  particularly 
like  about  it  is,  that  the  mare  did  it  all  willingly  and  of  her  own 
accord,  took  well  to  collar  at  starting,  and  kept  it  up  steadily,  and  in 
a  business-like  manner,  till  her  work  was  done." 

"  In  fact,  behaved  as  utterly  unlike  a  female  throughout  the  whole 
affair,  as  if  she  had  belonged  to  the  nobler  sex,"  returned  Hazlehurst, 
sarcastically. 

'* '  Infandum  renovare  dolorem  ! '  why  will  you  remind  me  of  my 
coming  trials,  and  not  suffer  me  to  enjoy  the  pleasiu-es  of  forgetful- 
ness  while  I  may?"  was  Coverdale's  desponding  rejoinder. 

"  Simply  because,  xmless  I  am  greatly  mistaken,  they  literally  are 
coming  trials,"  was  the  reply.  "  Look  through  that  belt  of  trees  on 
the  left ;  don't  you  see  the  flutter  of  something  white  ?  " 

"  Muslin,  by  all  that's  flimsy,  frivolous,  and  feminine  !  "  exclaimed 
Harry,  aghast :  "  I  say,  Arthur,  can't  we  turn  off  somewhere  ?  " 

"  By  all  means,  if  you  wish  it ;  there's  a  gravel-pit  on  the  right- 
hand,  and  a  precipitous  bank  sloping  down  to  the  river  on  the  left, 
which  will  you  prefer  ?  "  was  the  obliging  rejoinder.  As  he  spoke,  a 
turn  in  the  road  disclosed  to  their  view  a  group  of  three  figures. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        17 

slowly  advancing'  in  the  same  direction  as  that  in  which  they  were 
themselves  proceeding. 

"  My  cousin,  Kate  Marsden,  my  sister  Alice,  and  a  gent,  name 
unknown,"  observed  Hazlehurst,  as  his  eyes  fell  upon  the  trio. 
"  Why,  sm-ely  it  is — ^no,  it  can't  be — yes,  it  is,  Horace  D'Almayne." 

"  Allowing,  merely  for  the  sake  of  ai-gument,  that  it  is  the  indi- 
vidual you  mention,  who  may  he  happen  to  be  ?  "  inquired  Hany, 
taking  up  the  whip  which  had  hitherto  reposed  innocuously  between 
them,  and  performing  rash  feats  with  it  over  the  ears  of  "  My  old 
Aunt  Sally  " — (for  so  in  honour  of  the  Ethiopian  Serenaders,  then 
in  the  zenith  of  their  popularity,  had  Harry  named  his  new 
favourite) . 

"  My  dear  fellow,  you  don't  mean  to  say  that  you  never  heard  of 
him  ?  Not  to  know  Horace  D'Almayne  argues  yourself  unknown ; 
why,  man,  he  is  a  noted  wit,  a  successful  poet,  the  greatest  dandy, 
and  the  most  incorrigible  male  flirt  about  town :  knows  everybody, 
has  been  everywhere,  and  done  everything." 

"  What  is  he  like  across  a  stifE  line  of  country,  and  how  many 
brace  can  he  bag  to  his  own  gun  ?  "  inquii-ed  Harry  di'ily. 

"  Not  knowing  can't  say,"  was  the  rejoinder, "  but  that's  not  at 
all  in  his  way;  he  affects,  if  it  is  affectation,  the  man  of  sentiment ; 
however,  just  now  he  is  believed  in  to  the  fullest  extent,  and  con- 
sidered a  regular  lion." 

"  A  regular  tiger,  I  should  have  fancied  rather,"  was  the  cynical 
reply.    "  Why,  the  brute  actually  wears  moustaches." 

"  He  has  served  in  the  Austrian  army,  and  sports  the  mouse-tails 
on  the  strength  of  his  military  pretensions,"  was  the  reply. 

After  a  minute's  pause,  Coverdale  observed,  inquiringly,  "  I 
suppose  we  must  needs  pull  up  and  do  the  civil  by  these  good 
people." 

"  Why,  considering  that  I  have  not  seen  my  sister  for  the  last  five 
months,  family  affection  (to  say  nothing  of  the  duties  of  society) 
demands  the  sacrifice,"  retiu-ned  Hazlehurst. 

"  Cut  it  short  then,  there's  a  good  fellow,  the  mare's  too  hot  to  be 
allowed  to  stand  long,  and  I  would  not  have  anything  go  wrong  with 
her  after  the  splendid  manner  in  which  she  has  brought  us  to-day, 
for  three  times  the  money  I  gave  for  her." 

As  he  spoke,  Hany  again  impatiently  flirted  the  whip  over  the 
ears  of  "  My  old  Aunt  Sally,"  an  indignity  which  excited  the  fiery 
disposition  of  that  highly-descended  quadruped,  who,  throwing  up 
her  head  and  tail,  flinging  out  her  fore  feet,  as  though  she  were 
sparring  with  the  distance  her  speed  must  overcome,  and  altogether 
looking  her  very  handsomest,  dashed  up  to  the  group  of  pedestrians 
so  suddenly  as  to  cause  the  two  ladies  to  draw  back  in  alarm  ;  while 
even  the  redoubtable  Horace  himself  sprang  out  of  the  way  with  a 
degree  of  alacrity  which  evinced  a  stronger  regard  for  his  personal 
safety  than  might  have  been  expected  from  so  heroic  a  character. 
For  this  sacrifice  of  dignity  to  the  first  law  of  nature,  self-preserva- 

c 


18  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

tion,  lie  endeavom-ed  to  compensate  himself  by  stroking  his  mous- 
taches, and  staring  superciliously  at  the  new  comers. 

While  Hazlehnrst,  who  sprang  down  the  moment  the  dog-cai-t 
stopped,  was  exchanging  greetings  with  his  cousin  and  sister,  Han'y 
was  left  undistui-bed  to  make  his  observations  on  the  trio  to  whom 
he  was  about  to  be  introdiiced.  The  elder  of  the  two  young  ladies, 
who  responded  to  the  definition,  "  My  cousin.  Miss  Kate  Marsden," 
was  above  the  middle  height,  and  of  a  singularly  graceful  figm-e ; 
her  featiu-es  were  delicately  formed  and  regular,  her  complexion  pale, 
but  clear,  her  hair  and  eyes  dark,  the  latter  being  large  and  expressive, 
her  hands  and  feet  small,  and  her  whole  bearing  and  appearance 
refined  and  aristocratic  in  the  extreme  ;  but  her  features  bore  a  look 
of  proud  reserve,  which  interfered  with  the  effect  which  her  beaiity 
would  otherwise  have  produced — an  inscrutable  look,  which  seemed 
to  say,  "  I  have  a  peculiar  and  decided  character,  but  I  defy  you  to 
read  it." 

It  is  of  no  iTse  to  attempt  to  describe  Alice  Hazlehurst,  for  the 
simple  reason  that  no  description  could  convey  an  adequate  idea  of 
her.  Not  that  she  was  anything  particularly  wonderful;  she  was 
not  even  a  miracle  of  beauty — she  was  only  about  the  best  thing  this 
fallen  world  of  ours  contains — a  bright,  high-spii-ited,  pm-e.  simple, 
true-hearted,  lovely,  and  loveable  yoitng  girl,  just  emerging  into 
graceful  womanhood;  veiy  shy,  slightly  romantic,  full  of  kindly 
sympathies  and  generous  impulses,  which  she  concealed  as  carefully 
as  bad  men  hide  unpopular  vices,  and  with  all  the  deep  and  noble 
qualities  of  her  woman's  nature,  as  well  as,  alas !  its  faults  and  foibles, 
lying  donnant  within  her,  either  to  be  developed  in  their  full  com- 
pleteness, or  dwarfed  into  comparative  insignificance,  as  the  hands 
into  which  she  might  fall  should  prove  fitted  or  unfitted  to  the  great, 
yet  enviable,  responsibility  of  foi-ming  her  character.  As  Hazlehurst 
leaiDt  down,  she  sprang  forward  to  meet  him ;  then  drew  back  from 
his  hearty  embrace  with  a  smile  and  a  blush,  which  very  unnecessarily 
made  her  appear  prettier  than  before,  to  acknowledge,  with  a  bow, 
her  introduction  to  her  brother's  friend. 

The  third  member  of  the  party,  Horace  D'Almayne,  had  been  well 
fitted  by  nature  to  sustain  the  chai-acter  of  "exquisite" — tall,  and 
with  a  graceful,  slender  figure,  his  well-formed  and  regular  features, 
soft  dark  hair,  and  brilliant  complexion,  gave  him  an  undoubted 
right  to  the  epithet  handsome,  although  it  was  in  a  style  suited 
rather  to  a  woman  than  to  a  man.  The  expression  of  his  face,  cynical 
and  supercilious  when  in  repose,  or  when  he  spoke  to  one  of  his  own 
sex,  relaxed  into  a  smile  of  sentimental  self-confidence  when  he 
addressed  a  woman.  He  appeared  veiy  young,  probably  not  above 
two  or  three  and  twenty,  and  was  dressed  up  to  the  "  ne  plus  ultra  " 
of  refined  dandyism. 

"  Why,  D'Almayne,"  exclaimed  Hazlehin-st,  "  how  is  it  that  we 
come  to  be  honoui'ed  by  your  company  ?  I  was  not  even  aware  that 
my  father  possessed  the  pleasure  of  your  acquaintance." 


i     ,7'     ""  ■ 


: 


15* 


sister,    Wcis    rap 
Hazleliiirst,  wlie. 

As  he  insinuat 
Horace  pointed  its . 
■'  ceillade,"  wliicli  was  • 
breast    o£  HaiTy  Covr 
desire  then  and  there  he 
compliment.     This  imj)ni. 
powerful  effort,  which  caui;. 
painfully  to  compress  the  u 
extent  which  justified  that 
for  the  time  being  into  a  bipe 
and  pawing  the  air  with  her  f  oi  v> 

"  Soho,  girl !    gently,  gently  ! 
having  perceived  the  exciting   ca. 
the    mare's    unmannerly  beht. .       * 
viciousness.    "  Why,  Harry,  what  o. 
creature  ? " 

"Probably   nothing  more  than  a  r*  • 
her  sex,"  was  Harry's  ungallant  reply, 
bad  taste  to  prefer  the  creature  comforts  o^' 
feed  of  corn,  to  remaining  in  the  broiling 
opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with 
hvu'st ; "    and  as   he  made  this    sarcastic    r 
carelessly  round  over  wood  and   field,   so   t 
acquainted  with  the  play  of  his  features  woiil 
decide  whether  he  was  himself  aware  of  the  f  uJ 


h 


20  HARRY   COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  A  pretty  broad  hint  tliat  I  am  not  to  keep  the  mare  standing- 
any  longer,"  retui-ned  Hazlehurst,  turning  to  his  cousin  and  sister. 
"That  fellow  cares  for  nothing  in  the  world  biit  his  horses,  except 
his  dogs  and  his  double-barrel.  Well,  I  suppose  you  girls  will  be 
coming  home  soon." 

"  Quite  as  soon  as  we  are  wanted  if  your  amiable  and  compli- 
mentaiy  friend  has  any  voice  in  the  matter,"  returaed  Alice,  "  sotto 
voce." 

"  Nonsense,"  was  the  I'eply  in  the  same  tone  ;  "  you  know  nothing 
about  him,  you  silly  child.  Harry  is  the  kindest-hearted,  best- 
tempered  fellow  in  the  world,  as  you'll  find  out  before  long." 

Alice's  only  reply  was  an  incredulous  toss  of  her  pretty  head,  and 
the  parties  separated. 

"  Of  all  the  puppies  I  ever  beheld,  that  creatm-e  D  Almayne  is  the 
most  insufferable — the  very  sight  of  him  irritates  me.  What  busi- 
ness has  he  to  pay  his  absurd  compliments  to  your  sister,  when  he 
has  only  known  her  for  a  few  hours  ?  If  I  were  you,  1  should  not 
stand  it." 

"  At  all  events,  his  compliments  are  of  a  more  civil  natui'e  than 
yours,"  returned  Hazlehurst  with  a  smile ;  "  why,  Harry,  you  are 
becoming  as  peppery  a  character  as  your  namesake  Hotspur 
himself." 

"  I  am  like  him  in  one  particular,  at  all  events,"  was  the  i'eply, 
"  for  I  cannot  abide  a  coxcomb." 

"  It  strikes  me,  that  is  not  the  only  point  in  which  you  resemble 
the  '  gunpowder  Percy,'  as  old  Falstaff  calls  him.  By  the  way,"  he 
continued,  "  what  in  the  world  was  the  matter  with  '  Aunt  Sally,'  a 
minute  ago  ?    she  seems  to  go  quietly  enough  now." 

"  I  rather  fancy  something  must  have  hurt  her  mouth,"  replied 
Harry,  turning  away  his  head  to  conceal  a  smile.  As  he  spoke,  they 
drove  round  the  gravel  sweep  leading  to  the  hall  door  of  Hazlehm-st 
Grange.  Beneath  the  porch  st-ood  two  gentlemen — in  one  of  whom, 
corpulent  and  elderly,  Coverdale  had  little  trouble  in  recognizing, 
from  his  likeness  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Hazlehurst  senior ;  while  the 
other,  tall,  thin,  and  cadaverous-looking,  he  rightly  conjectured  to 
be  the  opulent  and  amorous  cotton  spinner,  Jedediah  Crane. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  21 


CHAPTER  V. 

PROVES  THE  ADVISABILITY  OF  LOOKING  BEFORE  YOU  LEAP. 

Nearly  a  week  had  elapsed  since  Hairy  Coverdale  liad  first  become 
an  inmate  of  Hazlehiirst  Grange,  during  which  period  he  had  con- 
trived to  win  the  good  opinion  of  the  elders  of  the  party,  pique  the 
young  ladies  by  his  "  brusquerie  "  and  neglect,  annoy  Hazlehurst  by 
his  insensibility  and  determination  not  to  make  himself  agreeable, 
and  finally  to  have  provoked  the  enmity  of  the  fascinating  Horace 
D'Almayne,  which  last  piece  of  delinquency  was  a  source  of  unmiti- 
gated satisfaction  to  its  perpetrator.  The  day  on  which  we  resume 
the  thread  of  our  narrative,  was  to  be  devoted  to  a  picnic  party,  the 
object  being  to  devour  unlimited  cold  lamb  and  pigeon-pie  amongst 
the  ruins  of  an  old  abbey,  some  eight  miles  from  the  Grange.  The 
morning  was  lovely,  everyone  appeared  in  high  spirits,  and  the  ex- 
pedition promised  to  be  a  prosperous  one. 

"Now,  then,  good  loeople,"  exclaimed  Arthur  Hazlehurst,  "  what 
are  the  arrangements — who  rides,  who  drives,  who  goes  with  who  ? — 
come  to  the  point  and  settle  something,  for  the  '  tempus '  is  '  fugit  '-ing 
at  a  most  alarming  pace." 

"I  am  desirous,"  observed  Mr.  Crane  slowly  and  solemnly,  "of 
soliciting  the  honour  of  driving  Miss  Hazlehurst  in  my  phaeton,  if  I 
may  venture  to  hope  such  an  arrangement  will  not  be  disagreeable  to 
that  lady ;  "  and  as  he  spoke,  the  cotton  spinner,  whose  tall,  ungainly 
figure,  clad  in  a  dust-colo\u*ed  wrapper,  white  trousers,  and  white  hat. 
gave  him  the  appearance  of  a  superannuated  baker's  boy  nin  very 
decidedly  to  seed,  bowed  appealingly  to  Alice,  who,  perceiving  her 
father's  eye  upon  her,  was  forced  unwillingly  to  consent. 

"  Mr.  Coverdale,  will  you  drive  a  lady  in  the  pony-chaise  ?  "  inquired 
Hazlehurst  pere.  "  My  niece  will  be  happy  to  accompany  you,  or 
my  saucy  little  Emily  here,"  he  continued,  gazing  with  paternal 
fondness  on  his  younger  daughter,  a  pretty  but  slightly  pert  girl  of 
sixteen. 

"  I  should  have  much  pleastu-e,"  muttered  Hari-y ;  "  but — but — I 
contrived  to  hurt  my  right  hand  a  few  days  ago,  and — ar — not  being 
used  to  the  ponies,  I  should  scarcely  feel  justified  in  undertaking  the 
charge." 

"Indeed,"  was  the  rejoinder;  "  I  noticed  you  always  wore  a  glove 
— how  did  the  accident  happen,  pray  ?  " 

"  I  hit — that  is — I  struck  my  hand  against  something  very  hard," 
stammered  Ham-y,  actually  colouring  like  a  girl,  as  he  caught  Hazle- 
hurst's  suppressed  chuckle,  and  obsei-ved  Alice's  bright  eyes  fixed 
upon  him  inquisitively. 


22  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  Kate,  if  nobody  else  will  dinve  you,  I  suppose  I  must  take  com- 
passion on  you  myself,"  remarked  Arthur,  "  sotto  voce,"  to  his  cousin. 

"  Ah !  but  here  comes  somebody  who  intends  to  relieve  you  of  the 
trouble,"  was  the  reply,  in  the  same  low  tone ;  "  do  not  make  any 
objection,"  she  continued  quickly,  "  you  will  only  annoy  my  uncle  to 
no  purj)ose ;  he  would  not  have  even  a  feather  of  the  Crane's  tail 
niffled  on  any  account." 

As  she  spoke,  she  glanced  meaningly  towards  Horace  D  Almayne, 
at  that  moment  engaged  in  drawing  on  a  pair  of  kid  gloves  too  small 
even  for  his  delicate  hands.  Coming  forward,  he  languidly,  and  in 
an  absent  manner,  volunteered  to  di-ive  Miss  Marsden — an  offer 
which  that  young  lady  quietly  accepted,  either  not  pei'ceiving,  or  dis- 
regarding, the  look  of  annoyance  with  which  her  cousin  turned  and 
left  the  spot. 

"  Oh,  you  are  going  to  ride,  Mr.  Coverdale ;  here  comes  Sir 
Lancelot,  looking  like  a  pictm-e,"  exclaimed  Tom  Hazlehurst,  a  fine, 
handsome  lad,  "  anno  setatis  "  foui-teen,  an  Etonian,  and  (need  we 
add  ?)  a  pickle — "  Oh  !  do  let  me  go  with  you ;  Alice  will  lend  me  her 
pony — won't  you,  Alice  ?  I'll  take  such  care  of  it,  and  you  don't  want 
it  yoiu'self ,  you  know — ask  her  to  lend  it  to  me,  Mr.  Coverdale,  do, 
please." 

If  Harry  had  a  weakness,  it  was  that  he  could  never  say  no,  when 
his  good  natui'e  was  aj)pealed  to  in  any  matter  in  which  another's 
pleasui'e  was  involved.  Tom,  moreover,  had  conceived  for  him  one 
of  those  violent  friendslii])s  which  boys  feel  towards  men  a  few  years 
older  than  themselves  who  realize  their  "  beau  ideal  "  of  perfection ; 
and  Hari-y,  pleased  with  his  luidisguised  admiration,  responded  to  it 
by  indulging  the  yoimg  scapegrace  in  all  his  vagaries. 

"  I'm  afraid  my  voice  is  not  so  potential  as  you  imagine,  Tom,"  was 
his  reply  ;  "  butiif  my  assm-ance  that  I  will  use  my  best  endeavoiu-s  to 
keep  you  and  the  pony  in  good  order,  will  have  any  weight  with  Miss 
Hazlehurst,  I  am  i^erfectly  willing  to  give  it." 

"  If  papa  has  no  objection,  Tom,  you  have  my  consent,"'  replied 
Alice,  blushing  and  smiling,  while,  at  the  bottom  of  her  heai't  she 
wished  both  Mr.  Crane  and  Harry  safely  located  at  Coventry,  Jericho, 
or  any  other  refuge  for  bores,  that  might  be  suitable  for  putting 
those  who  are  in  the  way  out  of  the  way ;  in  which  case  she  would 
herself  have  enjoyed  a  canter  with  Master  Tom. 

"  Oh.  the  Governor  won't  say  no — will  you.  Daddy  ?  "  was  Tom's 
confident  reply  ;  and  Mr.  Hazlehurst,  who,  being  a  dreadful  autocrat 
to  his  elder  children,  made  up  for  it  by  weakly  indulging  his  youngest 
born,  having  signified  his  consent,  the  cavalcade  proceeded  to  staii; — 
a  close  carriage  and  a  barouche  conveying  the  remaining  juveniles, 
and  all  the  elders  of  the  pai-ty,  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Hazle- 
hurst, who,  being  a  confirmed  invalid,  i-emained  at  home,  in  company 
with  a  weather-wise  old  maid,  proprietress  of  a  meteorological  com, 
which  having  given  warning  that  a  change  was  at  hand,  led  her  to 
mistmst  the  brilliant  sunshine. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT        23 

"  Can't  we  find  our  way  across  the  fields  somehow,  Tom,  without 
riding'  along  the  dusty  road  the  whole  distance  ?  "  inquired  HaiTy. 

"  To  be  sure  we  can,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  don't  I  know  a  way,  that's 
all  ?  Turn  down  the  next  lane  to  the  right,  and  then  there  are  lots 
of  jolly  grass  fields  and  a  wide  common,  so  that  we  can  gallop  as 
much  as  we  like,  and  get  there  before  them — won't  they  be  surprised 
to  see  us  just  ?    What  a  lark !  " 

Tom's  topographical  knowledge  proving'  correct,  they  cantei-ed  away 
merrily  over  field  and  comaion,  till  they  had  ridden  some  five  or  six 
miles. 

"  You  really  have  an  imcommonly  good  seat,  Tom,"  observed  his 
friend ;  "  only  remember  to  turn  your  toes  in,  and  keep  your  bridle 
hand  low,  and  you'll  do— you've  plenty  of  pluck,  and  when  you've 
acquired  a  little  more  judgment  and  experience,  you'll  be  able  to 
'  hold  your  own  '  across  a  coimtry  with  some  of  the  best  of  'em." 

"  Ah,  shouldn't  I  like  to  go  out  himting,  that's  all  ?  "  exclaimed  the 
boy  eagerly. 

"  Have  you  never  done  so  ?  "  inquired  his  friend. 

"  No ;  I  tried  it  on  last  winter,  but  the  Governor  cut  up  rough,  and 
wouldn't  stand  it." 

■'  Can  you  sit  a  leap  ?  "  asked  Harry. 

"  I  believe  you,  rayther,  just  a  very  few,"  was  the  confident  reply, 

"  Well,  you  must  come  to  Coverdale,  in  the  Christmas  holidays, 
and  I'll  mount  you  and  take  you  out  with  me  ;  I  mean  to  get  up  a 
stud,  and  hunt  regularly  this  season,"  obseined  Harry. 

"  Won't  that  be  jolly  just  ? — I'll  come  whether  they'll  let  me  or  not, 
depend  upon  it ;  but  now  this  is  the  last  grass  field,  let's  have  a  race 
for  a  wind-up."  So  saying.  Master  Tom  laid  his  whip  smartly  across 
his  pony's  shoulder,  and  dashed  off,  while  Coverdale,  gradually  giving 
his  spirited  but  pei-fectly  broken  horse  the  rein,  soon  overtook  him. 
A  brushing  gallop  of  five  minutes  brought  them  to  the  border  of  the 
field,  which  was  surrounded  by  a  ditch  and  bank,  with  a  sufficiently 
high  rail  at  top  to  constitl^te  an  awkward  leap. 

"  How  are  we  going  to  find  our  way  out  ?  "  inquired  HaiTy. 

"  Get  off,  pull  down  a  rail,  and  then  jump  it,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Yes,  that  will  be  the  best  way  for  you  and  the  pony  to  get  over," 
returned  Covei'dale,  "  but  I'll  take  it  as  it  stands.  I've  never  yet  had 
a  chance  of  trying  Lancelot  at  a  stiff  fence,  and  I  want  to  see  how 
he'll  act :  don't  you  attempt  to  follow  me  ;  as  soon  as  I  am  over,  I'U 
dismoimt  and  pull  down  the  rail  for  you." 

As  he  spoke  Harry  put  his  horse  in  motion,  cantei'ed  him  up  to  the 
fence,  and  faced  him  at  it.  Sir  Lancelot  did  not  belie  the  chai*acter 
that  had  been  given  of  him.  As  he  approached  the  bank  he  quick- 
ened his  pace  of  his  own  accord,  gathered  his  legs  well  under  him, 
and  then  rising  to  the  leap,  sprang  over  with  a  motion  so  easy  and 
elastic  that  his  rider  appeared  scarcely  to  move  in  his  saddle.  The 
descent  on  the  farther  side  was  steeper  than  Harry  had  expected,  and 
the  leap  altogether  might  be  considered  a  difficult  one.    Delighted 


24  HARRY  COVERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

with  his  horse's  performance,  Harry  pulled  up,  and  turned,  with  the 
intention  of  alighting,  in  order  to  remove  a  rail  of  the  fence,  and  thus 
facilitate  the  transit  of  Tom  and  the  pony  ;  when,  to  his  alarm  and 
vexation,  he  perceived  that  the  boy,  deceived  by  the  appai'ent  ease 
with  which  he  had  accomplished  the  task  (a  delusive  appearance, 
produced  as  much  by  the  coolness  and  address  of  the  rider  as  by  the 
power  and  excellent  training  of  the  horse),  had  determined  to  display 
his  prowess  by  following  him  ;  nor  could  HaiTy  interfere  to  prevent 
him,  for  at  the  moment  he  turned,  Tom  was  in  the  act  of  galloping 
up  to  the  fence  :  all  that  remained  for  him,  therefore,  was  to  shout, 
"  Give  the  pony  his  head,  and  hold  tight  with  your  Knees,"  and  to 
await  the  result.  The  pony,  excited  by  seeing  its  companion  on  the 
other  side,  faced  the  leap  boldly,  and  cleared  the  ditch  and  bank,  but 
catching  its  hoofs  against  the  rail,  fell,  pitching  its  rider  over  its 
head  into  the  field  beyond,  where  he  lay  as  if  stunned.  In  an  instant 
Han-y  had  sprung  from  his  saddle  and  lifted  him  in  his  arms. 
"  Thank  Heaven !  "  he  exclaimed  as  the  boy  opened  his  eyes,  and, 
perceiving  Coverdale  bending  over  him,  smiled  to  evince  his 
gi'atitude. 

"  You  don't  feel  as  if  you  were  seriously  hurt  anywhere,  do  you  ?  " 

"  All  right ! "  was  the  reply.  "  I  feel  a  little  bit  shaky  and  con- 
fused ;  rather  as  if  somebody  had  gone  and  kicked  me  into  the  middle 
of  next  week,  that's  all." 

"  Then  you've  escaped  more  easily  than  you  had  any  right  to 
expect,  you  heedless,  impetuous  young  monkey,"  returned  Coverdale, 
sharply.  "  You  must  have  been  mad  to  suppose  that  a  half-bred, 
thick-headed  beast  like  that  pony  would  can-y  yoii  over  such  a  fence 
as  that.  Why,  I  know  men,  who  call  themselves  good  riders,  who 
would  refuse  it,  unless  they  were  very  well  mounted." 

"  If  the  pony  did  not  caiTy  me  over,  he  shot  me  over,  and  that  did 
just  as  well,"  was  the  careless  reply.  "  But  I  say,  Mr.  Coverdale, 
only  look  at  his  knees  !    Oh !  shan't  we  get  into  a  jolly  scrape  just  P  " 

Thus  appealed  to,  Harry  turned  to  examine  the  pony,  which,  in  his 
anxiety  for  the  safety  of  the  boy,  he  had  hitherto  forgotten.  The 
result  of  his  scrutiny  was  by  no  means  satisfactory. 

"  He  has  broken  both  knees !  "  he  exclaimed ;  "  the  right  one  is  cut 
severely,  and  however  favourably  it  may  go  on,  there  will  always 
remain  a  scar ;  you've  knocked  ten  pounds  off  the  pony's  price  by 
that  exploit  of  yours,  Master  Tom,  besides  rendering  the  animal 
unsafe  for  your  sister  to  ride." 

"  You've  put  your  foot  in  it  as  well  as  I,  Mr.  Coverdale,"  returned 
the  young  imp,  grinning.  "  You  promised  Alice  you  would  do  your 
best  to  keep  me,  and  the  pony  too,  in  proper  order,  you  know  P  " 

"  Why,  you  ungrateful  young  scamp,  I'm  sure  I  told  you  not  to 
attempt  the  leap,"  replied  Harry,  restraining  a  strong  inclination  to 
lay  his  horsewhip  across  the  young  pickle's  shoulders. 

"  Yes  ;  and  then  you  and  Lancelot  went  flying  over  it  as  lightly  as 
if  he  had  wings,  like  that  fabulous  humbug  Pegasus,  that  old  Buzwig 


!(* 


I' 


'fl' 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        25 

is  always  bettering  us  about.  The  copy-book  says,  '  Practice  before 
precept,'  and  so  say  I.  Why,  you  did  not  expect  I  was  going  to  be 
such  a  muff  as  to  stay  behind,  did  you  ?  " 

"  I  was  a  fool  if  I  did,  at  all  events,"  muttered  Harry,  "  sotto  voce  " ; 
then,  turning  good-naturedly  to  the  boy,  he  continued,  "  The  copy- 
book also  says,  '  What  can't  be  cured  must  be  endui-ed,'  does  it  not, 
Tom  ?  So  we  must  get  out  of  the  scrape  as  best  we  can.  We'll 
leave  the  pony  at  the  nearest  farm-house,  and  I'll  send  my  groom  to 
doctor  him — so  lead  him  by  the  rein  and  come  along." 

Of  course,  when  they  joined  the  rest  of  the  party  and  told  their 
misdeeds,  Alice  lamented  over  the  pony's  troubles  after  the  usual 
fashion  of  tender-heai-ted  young  ladies.  Of  course,  Hazlehurst 
senior,  discerning  a  long  fan-ier's  bill  in  prospective,  with  the  possi- 
bility of  being  coaxed  out  of  a  new  pony  as  a  not  unlikely  contingent 
result,  was  gi'umpy,  as  governors  usually  are  when  they  foresee  a 
strain  upon  their  purse  strings ;  and,  of  com-se.  although  these 
lamentations  and  threatenings  were  launched  at  the  curly  head  of 
Master  Tom,  they  yet  glanced  off  that  unimpressable  substance,  only 
to  fall  upon  and  ovei-whelm  with  shame  and  confusion  Hany  Cover- 
dale,  who  began  mentally  to  curse  the  day  when,  false  to  his  own 
presentiments,  he  had  yielded  to  his  friend's  impoi'tunities,  and 
sxiffered  himself  to  become  an  inmate  of  Hazlehiu-st  Grange. 

Bent  on  avoiding  young  ladies,  and  having  no  taste  for  the  society 
of  old  ones,  Han-y  wandered  about  disconsolately,  until,  attracted  by 
a  dark  archway  and  a  worm-eaten  winding  staircase,  which,  as 
Master  Tom  expressed  it,  looked  "  jolly  queer  and  ghostified,"  he 
made  his  way  up  the  mouldering  steps  imtil  he  found  himself  at  the 
top  of  a  battlemented  tower,  where  he  was  repaid  for  the  trouble  of 
the  ascent  by  a  beautiful  and  widely-extending  \iew.  Ha-v-ing  con- 
trived to  get  rid  of  the  voluble  and  restless  Etonian,  Coverdale 
seated  himself  on  a  projecting  fragment  of  masoni-y,  and  glancing 
round  to  see  that  he  was  not  observed  or  observable,  lit  a  cigar,  and 
his  raffled  feelings  being  soothed  by  its  mollifying  influence, 
remained  lazily  watching  the  movements  of  the  pleasure-seekers — 
his  reflections  running  somewhat  after  the  following  fashion  : — 

"  There's  old  Crane  maundering  about  after  Alice  as  usual — don't 
think  he  gets  on  with  her  though,  rather  t'other  way — decided  case 
of  jibbing,  I  should  say.  She  looked  awfully  bored  and  frightened 
too,  up  in  that  phaeton  with  him ;  and  no  wonder  either,  for  the  old 
boy  is  nothing  of  a  whip — I  should  be  soiTy  to  trust  a  cat  of  mine  to 
his  driA-ing.  Ah  !  she's  given  him  the  slip,  and  that  Miss  Marsden 
has  taken  him  in  tow.  I  can't  make  that  woman  out — she  is  so  civil 
to  him ;  perhaps  she  thinks  the  affair  with  Alice  may  miss  fire,  and 
she  is  looking  out  for  the  reversion  of  the  cotton  spinner  herself. 
Arthur  says  she's  vei-y  poor,  and  that  there  are  a  large  family  of 
them ;  if  so,  it's  not  a  bad  dodge,  and,  supposing  she  plays  her  cards 
■well,  one  by  no  means  unlikely  to  succeed.  There's  that  confounded 
puppy  D'Almayne  swaggering  up  to  Alice,   stroking    his    stupid 


26  HARRY  COVERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

moustaclies — yes,  and  she  smiles  and  takes  his  arm,  of  course — 
believes  all  his  lies,  and  thinks  him  a  hero,  I  dare  say.  Oh !  the  poor 
silly  fools  of  women  that  can't  distinguish  a  man  from  a  jackanapes 
— I  should  have  fancied  Alice  had  more  sense ;  but  they're  all  alike. 
Look  at  the  idiot  simpering ;  that's  only  to  show  his  white  teeth 
now:  the  brute  has  no  idea  of  a  real  joke — hasn't  got  it  in  him. 
Well,  thank  'goodness,  it's  no  concern  of  mine :  but  if  I  were  Crane, 
I'd  interfere  with  his  flirting  rather.  The  fellow  talks  as  if  he  were 
a  dreadful  fire-eater — I  should  like  to  try  what  he's  made  of :  but  I 
expect  it's  all  talk  and  nothing  else — I  wish  I  could  coax  him  into 
putting  on  the  gloves  with  me  some  day — I'd  astonish  his  moustaches 
for  him.  Well,  he  has  walked  her  off  at  all  events.  I  wonder  where 
they're  going  to.  Are  they  ?  Yes — no— yes,  by  Jove,  if  he  isn't 
going  to  take  her  across  that  field  which  Tom  and  I  rode  through, 
where  the  bull  was  grazing — the  biiite  is  mischievous,  too,  or  I  am 
much  mistaken — confound  the  fool,  he'll  go  and  frighten  the  poor  girl 
out  of  her  senses,  and,  perhaj^s,  get  her  hm-t  into  the  bargain ;  for,  if 
the  bull  i-eally  is  vicious,  ten  to  one  Moustaches  loses  pluck,  and 
bolts  or  something  ridiculous.  I've  a  great  mind  to  follow  them,  it 
can  do  no  harm,  and  may  do  some  good — 'gad,  I  will  too.  Alice  is 
far  too  pretty  to  be  gored  by  a  bull ;  besides,  for  Arthru"'s  sake,  one  is 
bound  to  take  cai-e  of  her — luckily,  I've  just  finished  the  cigar,  so  ofE 
we  go." 

Having  arrived  at  this  point  in  his  meditations,  Harry  rose  from 
his  seat,  ran  lightly  down  the  stairs  till  he  reach  a  i-uined  window 
about  six  feet  from  the  gi'ound,  through  which  he  leaped,  then 
settling  into  a  long  swinging  trot,  he  ran,  at  a  pace  with  which  few 
could  have  kept  up,  in  the  direction  taken  by  Alice  and  D'Alraayne : 
they  had,  however,  obtained  so  greatly  the  start  of  him,  that  they 
had  already  entered  the  field  occupied  by  the  dangerous  bidl,  ere  he 
had  overtaken  them. 

It  was  a  remarkably  warm  day — the  field  in  which  pastnred  the 
alarming  bull  was  distant  from  the  abbey  ruins  half  a  mile  at  the 
very  least.  Now,  to  jvmip  thi-ough  a  window  six  feet  or  thereabouts 
from  the  gi'ound,  run  at  the  top  of  one's  speed  half  a  mile,  leaping 
recklessly  over  two  gates  and  a  stile  in  the  course  of  it ;  and  to  do 
all  this  in  a  state  of  anxious  excitement  on  a  day  when  the  thermo- 
meter stands  at  seventy  degrees  in.  the  shade,  naturally  tends  to 
make  a  man  not  only  hot,  but  (if  his  temper  be  not  semi-angelic) 
cross  also.  At  all  events,  Harry  Coverdale  was  in  the  former,  if  not 
the  latter,  condition,  when,  panting  and  breathless,  he  overtook  Alice 
Hazlehurst  and  Horace  D'Almayne,  half-way  across  the  dangerous 
field. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  27 


CHAPTER  VI. 

JEST   AND    EARNEST. 

"  Mr.  Coverdale,  is  anytliing  the  mattei'? — why,  you  are  quite  out 
o£  breath  with  running ! "  exclaimed  Alice,  starting  as  she  beheld 
him. 

"  Uncomfortably  warm,  too,  I  should  say,"  drawled  D Almayne, 
glancing  significantly  at  Harry's  glowing  cheeks,  which  were  certainly 
too  red  to  be  romantic  ;  "  really  now,  do  you  consider  it  judicious  to 
overheat  yourself  so  ? — of  coiu'se,  I  merely  ask  as  a  matter  of 
cui'iosity." 

HaiTy  magnanimously  repressed  a  strong  inclination  to  knock  him 
down ;  but  he  felt  that  to  answer  him  coolly  was  both  litei'ally  and 
metaphorically  out  of  his  power,  so  he  confined  his  reply  to  Alice's 
question. 

"There  is  nothing  the  matter,  Miss  Hazlehui'st,"  he  said;  "but 
seeing  you  take  this  direction,  and  thinking  that  Mr.  D'Almayne 
might  not  be  aware  a  bull  was  grazing  in  this  meadow,  I  thought  it 
advisable  to  follow  and  put  you  on  your  guard,  even  at  the  risk  of 
making  myself  unbecomingly  hot ; "  and  as  he  pi'onounced  the  last 
two  words  he  looked  at  D'Almayne  as  though  he  wished  he  had  been 
the  bull,  and  would  oblige  him  by  evincing  an  inclination  to  attack 
them. 

"  How  very  kind  and  thoughtful  of  you !  "  i-etumed  Alice,  bestowing 
on  him  one  of  her  brightest  smiles;  "but  is  there  any  danger? — 
what  had  we  better  do  ?  " 

"Eh,  really,  danger!  not  the  slightest;  am  not  I  with  you?" 
interposed  D'Almayne,  majestically  bending  over  her.  "  A  bull,  did 
you  say,  Mr.  Coverdale  ? — ar — really,  I  don't  perceive  such  a  creature. 
— Are  yoii  quite  sure  he  exists  anywhere  but  in  your  vivid  and 
poetical  imagination  ?  " 

Hari-y's  reply,  if  reply  it  can  be  called,  to  this  impertinent  ques- 
tion, was  made  by  gi-asping  D'Almayne's  elbow  so  tightly  as  to  cause 
that  delicate  young  gentleman  to  wince  under  the  pressui'e.  Having 
thus  attracted  his  attention  at  a  moment  when  Alice's  head  was 
turned  in  an  opposite  direction,  he  pointed  towards  a  group  of  trees, 
under  the  shadow  whereof  might  be  discerned  a  large  brindled 
individual  of  the  bovine  species,  who  stood  attentively  regarding  the 
trio  with  a  singularly  unamiable,  not  to  say  vicious  expression  of 
countenance.  Placing  his  finger  on  his  lips  as  a  hint  to  D'Almayne 
to  keep  the  knowledge  thus  acquired  to  himself,  Harry  answered 
Alice's  inquiry  by  saying, — 


28  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  It  is  always  tlie  safest  policy  to  misti'ust  a  bull ;  so  I  would  advise 
you  to  turn  and  make  tlie  best  of  your  way  towards  the  stile  over 
whicli  I  came ;  walk  as  quickly  as  you  please,  but  do  not  ran,  as  that 
would  only  tempt  the  animal  to  follow  you." 

"  Yes,  really,  Miss  Hazlehurst,  we  must  not  risk  the  chance  of 
frightening  you  merely  because  we  men  enjoy  the  excitement  of  a 
little  dangei — take  my  arm,"  hastily  rejoined  Horace  D'Almayne, 
and  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he  drew  Alice's  arm  within  his 
own,  and  marched  her  off  at  a  pace  with  which  she  found  consider- 
able difficulty  in  keeping  up.  Harry,  ere  he  followed  them,  remained 
stationary  for  a  minute  or  so,  to  reconnoitre  the  movements  of  the 
bull.  That  animal,  having  apparently  satisfied  his  curiosity  in  regard 
to  the  intiaiders  on  his  domain,  was  now  assiduously  working  himself 
up  into  a  rage,  preparatoiy,  no  doubt,  to  institiiting  vigorous 
measures  for  their  expulsion.  The  way  in  which  he  signified  this 
intention  was  by  tossing  his  head  up  and  down,  tearing  up  the  tiu-f 
with  his  fore-feet,  and  uttering  from  time  to  time  a  low  angi-y  roar, 
like  the  rvxmbling  of  distant  thimder.  When  HaiTy  turned  to  leave 
the  spot  the  animal  immediately  followed  him,  though  only  at  a 
walk.  As  soon  as  he  became  aware  of  this  disagreeable  fact.  Cover- 
dale  paused  and  faced  his  undesirable  attendant ;  which  manoeuvre, 
as  he  expected,  caused  the  bull  to  stop  also,  though  it  was  evident  it 
had  the  effect  of  increasing  the  creature's  rage.  In  spite  of  this 
discovery,  Harry  waited  till  his  companions  had  reached  the  stile, 
and  D'Almayne  had  assisted  Alice  to  get  over  it— a  piece  of  chivah-y 
by  which  he  very  materially  lessened  his  own  chances  of  safety,  as 
the  bull's  small  stock  of  patience  being  exhausted,  it  became  evident 
he  was  preparing  for  a  rush.  Trusting  to  his  swiftness  of  foot, 
Harry  was  about  to  make  an  attempt  to  reach  the  stile  before  the 
bull  should  overtake  him,  when  suddenly  the  yelping  of  a  dog  was 
heard,  and  a  terrier  belonging  to  Arthiu-  Hazlehiirst,  which  had 
followed  them  unobserved,  ran  foi-ward  and  distracted  the  bull's 
attention  by  barking  round  him,  taking  especial  care  to  keep  out  of 
the  reach  of  the  animal's  horns.  This  diversion  in  his  favour  enabled 
Coverdale  to  rejoin  his  companions  unmolested. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Coverdale,  what  a  savage-looking  creature !  I  was  so 
afi-aid  it  was  going  to  attack  you.  I  do  not  know  how  to  thank  you 
properly  for  having  saved  me  from  at  least  a  terrible  fright,"  ex- 
claimed  Alice  as  Harry  ran  up  to  them. 

"  Ar — from  alann  possibly ;  but  really  I  don't  conceive  there  was 
the  slightest  danger ;  the  animal  was  a  very  mild  specimen  of  his 
class ;  even  a  little  dog,  you  see,  was  sufficient  to  turn  him,"  observed 
DAlmayne  slightingly. 

"  I'D  bet  you  fifty  pounds  to  one  you  don't  walk  across  that  field 
while  the  buU  remains  there,"  exclaimed  Han-y  eagerly — "Miss 
Hazlehurst  shall  be  umpire,  and  I'll  promise  to  come  and  do  my 
best  to  help  you  if  you  get  into  any  scrape— what  do  you  say,  is  it 
abet?" 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        29 

"  I  never  bet,  and — ar — never  do  useless  and  unreasonable  tbings 
on  a  bot  day  in  order  to  establisb  a  fast  reputation.  Sucb  little 
excitements  may  be  all  very  well  for  a  sporting  ebaracter  like  your- 
self, my  dear  Coverdale ;  but — ar — a  man  wbo  has  sbot  bison  on  the 
American  prairies  does  not  need  them ;  so  really  you  must  hold  me 
excused.  Shall  we  rejoin  the  rest  of  the  party,  Miss  Hazleluirst  ? 
they  seem  assembling  for  luncheon.  Let  me  recollect,  we  were 
talking  of  that  charming  soul-ci"eation  of  Tennyson, '  Locksley  Hall.' 
I  think,  before  this  absurd  interruption  occurred ;  what  an  imrivalled 
pictm*e  does  it  not  present  of  the  spirit  torture  of  a  proud  despair  ?  " 
— and  chattering  on  in  the  same  pseudo-romantic  and  grandiloquent 
strain,  the  man  of  sentiment  fairly  walked  Alice  off,  leaving  Cover- 
dale  in  the  unenviable  position  popularly  ascribed  to  virtue,  viz., 
that  of  being  its  own  reward.  Having  waited  till  the  pair  were  out 
of  sight  he  flung  himself  down  at  the  foot  of  an  old  beech-tree,  and 
indulged  in  the  following  mental  soliloquy  : — 

"  Well,  Master  Harry !  you've  been  and  done  something  clever— 
you  have,  certainly ;  run  like  an  insane  creature  more  than  half-a- 
mile,  on  by  far  the  hottest  day  we've  had  this  summer,  and  placed 
yourself  in  a  situation  where  nothing  but  a  lucky  accident  saved  you 
from  being  run  at,  and  possibly  gored,  by  rather  a  mad  bull  than 
otherwise,  only  to  be  pooh-poohed  by  an  insolent  coxcomb,  and  have 
a  cold-hearted  ungrateful  girl  lisp  out  a  missish  inquiry,  '  whether 
there  was  any  danger,'  forsooth !  'gad,  I  almost  wish  I'd  left  her  and 
her  swain  to  find  out  for  themselves." 

He  i^aused,  removed  his  hat  to  allow  a  slight  breeze  which  had 
sprung  up  to  cool  his  heated  forehead,  and  then  sti'etching  himself, 
resumed, — 

"  I  hope  I'm  not  really  becoming  morose  and  ill-tempered,  as 
Arthur  hinted  the  other  day.  I  mi^st  take  care,  or  I  shall  be  grow- 
ing a  savage  old  brute,  and  have  everybody  hate  me.  It's  all  that 
puppy  D'Almayne ;  he  keeps  me  in  a  constant  state  of  suppressed 
irritation  with  his  affected  airs  of  superiority; — but  puppies  will 
exist  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  I  suppose,  whether  I  like  it  or  not, 
and  must  be  endured;  so  we'll  endeavour  to  look  upon  him  as  an 
appointed  trial,  and  see  if  we  can  turn  him  to  good  account  in  that 
way.  There's  always  the  possibility  of  horse-whipping  him  as  a 
'  deraier  resort,'  that's  one  consolation.  Now  I'll  go  to  luncheon, 
and  try  whether  I  can  put  some  of  my  good  intentions  into  practice. 
Heigho!  life's  hard  woi-k,  and  no  mistake;  particularly  in  warm 
weather."  Thus  cogitating,  HaiTy  slowly  gathered  himself  up,  and 
betook  himself  to  join  the  luncheon  party,  actuated  thereunto, 
amongst  other  reasons,  by  the  discovery  of  a  serious  attack  of 
appetite.  In  the  meantime,  a  scene  of  a  very  different  character  was 
being  enacted  between  two  others  of  oui*  "  dramatis  personse." 

Arthur  Hazlehurst,  foiled  in  his  attempt  to  secure  a  "  tete-a-tete  " 
drive  with  his  cousin,  Kate  Marsden,  having,  after  his  usual  habit, 
bustled  about,  settled  everything  for  everybody,  and  made  himself 


30  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

very  generally  useful  and  agreeable,  had  contrived  on  amving  at  the 
rnins  to  withdraw  himself  from  the  rest  of  the  party,  and  having 
watched  the  proceedings  of  his  cousin  and  Mr.  Crane,  waited  until 
she  separated  from  that  gentleman,  when  he  joined  hei',  and  induced 
her  to  stroll  with  him  along  a  shady,  serpentine,  romantic-looking 
pathway  leading  throiigh  a  wood.  Agreeable  as  were  external 
circumstances,  however,  neither  the  lady  nor  the  gentleman  appeared 
to  be  in  a  sympathetic  frame  of  mind ;  for  a  cloud  hung  on  Arthiu*'s 
brow,  while  his  cousin's  features  wore  a  cold,  uncompromising  look 
of  defiance.  They  ])roceeded  for  some  little  distance  in  silence; 
Hazlehurst  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  Tou  found  yom*  companion  amusing,  I  hope ;  pray  what  might 
he  be  talking  about  so  earnestly  ?  " 

"  Do  you  really  care  to  know  ?  "  was  the  reply ;  "  he  was  making 
me  his  '  confidante '  in  regard  to  Alice.  The  poor  man  is  at  his  wits' 
end — if  a  quality  which  he  does  not  possess  can  be  said  to  have  an 
end  ;  at  all  events,  he  is  '  au  desespoir.'  Even  his  obtuseness  cannot 
be  blind  to  the  fact  that  she  dislikes  him,  and  the  worthy  soul  is  now 
beginning  to  gi'ow  mildly  jealous  of  D'Almayne." 

"  And  what  advice  did  you  give  him  ? "  inquired  her  cousin 
sternly  ;  "  tell  me  the  truth." 

As  he  spoke  the  girl's  eyes  flashed,  and  a  slight  coloiu*  burned  for 
a  moment  in  her  pale  cheeks. 

"  How  dare  you  say  such  a  thing  to  me ! "  was  her  indignant 
rejoinder;  "have  I  ever  attempted  to  deceive  you? — you  know  I 
have  not ;  but  let  it  pass.  You  ask  me  what  advice  I  gave  him :  I 
told  him  to  persevere,  reminded  him  that  a  faint  heai-t  never  won  a 
fair  lady,  which  I  believe  he  took  to  be  an  entirely  original  remark 
on  my  part,  and  gently  insinuated  that  no  girl  in  her  senses  could 
refuse  him." 

Ai-thur  fixed  his  piercing  glance  upon  her,  as  he  replied, — 

"  And  why  did  you  say  this  ?  Do  you  believe,  indeed,  that  Alice 
will  eventually  be  prevailed  upon  to  man-y  him  ? — or  did  you  say  it 
to  deceive  him  for  a  purpose  of  your  own  ?  " 

"I  gave  him  good  sound  advice,"  was  the  answer;  "I  do  not 
believe  Alice  will  man-y  him ;  but  that  is  no  reason  why  he  should 
not  use  his  best  endeavoiu-s  to  obtain  what  he  wishes,  or  fancies  he 
wishes.  I  shall  advise  him  to  prosecute  his  suit,  and  at  the  right 
moment  to  ofEer  to  her  in  person." 

"  In  order  that  she  may  iiTitate  him,  and  offend  my  father, 
by  a  refusal.  Kate,  you  are  playing  some  deep  game  in  all  this, 
and  one  of  which  you  know  I  should  disapprove,  or  else  you 
would  not  so  studiously  conceal  it  from  me,"  returned  Hazlehurst, 
gloomily. 

There  was  a  moment's  pause  ere  the  yoimg  lady  replied, — 

"  Let  events  um-avel  themselves,  my  worthy  cousin ;  the  result  will 
appear  all  in  good  time." 

They  walked  on  in  silence,  till  a  turn  in  the  path  brought  them 


--v- 


1» 


'I 


32  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

put  them  away  from  you,  and  to  wait  patiently  for  a  few,  a  very 
few  short  years,  until  I  can  claim  you  for  my  beloved,  my  honoured 
wife.    Kate,  you  will  do  as  I  desire  ? — speak  to  me,  my  own  love  !  " 

Unheeding  his  appeal,  she  remained  for  a  minute  silent,  while  a 
few  tears  stole  imchecked  down  her  pale  cheeks,  then  rousing  herself 
by  an  effort,  she  wiped  away  the  traces  of  her  late  emotion,  gently 
removed  her  cousin's  arm,  which  still  encircled  her  waist,  and  draw- 
ing herself  up,  exclaimed, — 

"  This  is  weakness — folly;  I  never  intended  it  should  have  come  to 
this  ;  but  I  was  taken  by  surprise — unprepared — " 

She  paused,  struggling  to  regain  self-possession,  then  in  a  calmer 
voice  resumed, — 

"  My  poor  Arthur !  I  do,  indeed,  appreciate  your  noble,  generous 
self-sacrifice,  and  were  I  alone  concerned,  would  desire  no  happier 
fate  than  to  share  and  aid  you  in  your  struggle  with  the  world ;  but 
it  may  not  be  so ;  others  have  claims  upon  me — my  father's  health  is 
failing— the  cai'es  of  that  bitter  curse,  poverty,  are  wearing  out  my 
mother's  little  remaining  strength,  and  blighting  the  talents  and 
crushing  the  youth  and  spirits  of  the  childi-en.  Dear  Arthur,  for- 
give me  the  pain  I  cost  you  when  I  tell  you — I  can  never  be  your 
■wife ! " 

"  But,  Kate,"  inteiTupted  her  cousin,  eagerly,  "  listen  to  me,  dear 
one ;  you  do  not  suppose  that  I  had  forgotten  all  this  ;  only  agree  to 
my  proposal,  and  I  will  be  a  son  to  your  mother,  a  father — if,  as  you 
fear,  my  uncle's  health  is  breaking — to  her  children.  My  practice  is 
increasing  every  day  ;  I  shall  soon  be  in  the  receipt  of  a  good  income ; 
Coverdale  is  rich,  and  loves  me  as  a  brother  ;  he  will  advance  me 
money ;  I  will  work  day  and  night  to  repay  him." 

"  My  husband  destroy  his  health  to  support  my  family  ! — is  this 
the  prospect  of  happiness  you  would  offer  me  ? — ai'e  these  the 
arguments  you  would  bring  forward  to  induce  me  to  agree  P  "  was 
the  reply.  "  No,  Arthur,  I  can  never  be  your  wife ;  you  must  fi'om 
this  moment  forget  that  such  an  idea  has  crossed  your  mind." 

"  But,  Kate,  only  hear  me ! — "  he  exclaimed  passionately. 

"  I  have  already  heard  too  much  for  your  happiness,  or  for  my 
own,"  was  the  moimiful  reply ;  then,  by  a  powerful  effort  i-esuming 
her  usual  manner,  she  exclaimed,  "  Come,  no  more  of  this  folly,  our 
paths  in  life  lie  separate ;  it  is  inevitable — therefore  repining  becomes 
worse  than  viseless ;  we  are  not  boy  and  girl,  to  stand  rehearsing 
romantic  love-scenes  together  ;  let  us  rejoin  the  others." 

For  a  moment  Hazlehurst  remained  silently  gazing  on  the  cold, 
immovable  expression  of  her  features ;  then,  coming  close  to  her,  he 
said  in  a  low,  hoarse  whisper,  "  I  read  your  heart,  and  perceive  the 
wickedness,  for  such  it  is,  you  contemplate.  I  will  give  you  till  to- 
morrow morning  to  reflect  on  what  has  passed  between  us ;  if  then 
you  adhere  to  your  determination,  I  leave  you  to  the  fate  you 
HAVE  chosen  ! "  and  as  he  uttered  the  last  words,  he  turned  and 
quitted  her. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF   IT  33 

Kate  Mavsden  gazed  aftei-  him  witli  the  same  cold  expression  of 
defiance  on  her  featiires  till  his  retreating  figure  became  no  longer 
visible,  then,  sinking  back  upon  the  rnstic  bench,  she  covered  her 
face  with  her  hands  and  wept  bitterly. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

WHEREIN   SYMPTOMS   OF   HARRY's   COURTSHIP   BEGIN    TO    APPEAR 
ON   A   STORMY   HORIZON, 

The  humom-s  of  a  picnic  have  been  too  often  described  to  need 
repetition ;  suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  picnic  in  question  was  decidedly 
a  favoiirable  specimen  of  its  class.  Of  coiu-se  everybody  voted  it  to 
be  the  siimmit  of  human  felicity,  to  sit  in  an  uncomfortable  position 
upon  something  never  intended  for  a  seat,  beside  a  table-cloth 
spread  upon  the  grass,  which,  being  elastic  and  uneven,  caused 
everything  that  should  have  remained  perpendicular  to  assume  a 
horizontal  attitude.  Of  course,  when  the  inevitable  frog  hopped 
across  the  table-cloth,  and,  losing  its  presence  of  mind  on  finding 
itself  so  unexpectedly  launched  into  fashionable  life,  sought  refuge 
in  the  pigeon-pie,  the  ladies  screamed  little  picturesque  screams, 
which  were  increased  twentyfold  when  Tom  Hazlehurst  fished  it  out 
with  a  table-spoon,  and  sun-eptitiously  immersed  it  in  the  jug  of 
beer,  which  liquid  he  artfully  incited  Mr.  Crane  to  poui'  out,  thereby 
landing  the  frog,  decidedly  inebriated  and  most  uncomfortably 
sticky,  upon  the  elaborately  embroidered  shirt-front  of  Horace 
D'Almayne.  Of  course  the  salt  and  the  sugar  had  fraternized,  and 
the  cayenne  had  elicited  new  and  striking  effects  by  mingling 
indiscriminately  with  things  in  general,  and  the  sweets  in  particular  ; 
and  of  course  all  these  shocking  disasters  irritated  the  few  and 
delighted  the  many,  and  added  immensely  to  the  liveliness  and 
hilarity  of  the  party. 

"  Tom,  you're  di'inking  too  much  champagne ! "  exclaimed  an 
elderly  maiden  sister  of  Mr.  Hazlehui-st,  decidedly  like  a  hippo- 
potamus in  face  and  figm-e.  "  Mi'.  D'Almayne,  may  I  trouble  you  to 
hand  me  his  glass,  the  boy  will  make  himself  poorly." 

Thus  appealed  to,  DAlmayne  languidly  extended  his  arm  in  the 
necessai-y  direction,  but  the  Etonian  was  not  to  be  so  easily  desiDoiled 
of  his  beverage. 

"  Mille  pardons,  mounseer  ! "  he  exclaimed,  mimicking  the  affected 
half -foreign  accent  with  which  the  exquisite  Horace  usually  spoke ; 


34  HARRY   COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  '  mais  c  est  tout  a  fait  '—out  of  the  question  ;  '  ne  souhaitez-vous  pas. 
que  vous  pouvez  I'obtenir  ?  '—don't  you  wish  you  may  ^et  it  ?  Equally 
obliged  to  you,  but  I'd  rather  do  my  own  drinking  myself.  Why,  my 
dear  Aunt  Betsy,  how  dreadfully  ungrateful  of  you,  just  when  I  was 
going  to  propose  your  health,  too  !  Silence,  gentlemen,  for  a  toast ! 
Come,  Governor  (to  his  father,  who.  delighted  with  the  young 
pickle's  ready  wit,  was  vainly  endeavouring  to  preserve  an  appear- 
ance of  majestic  disapproval),  fill  up;  DAlmayne,  my  boy.  no  heel- 
taps ;  are  you  all  charged  ?  '  My  Aunt  Betsy,  and  the  rest  of  her 
lovely  sex !— hip !  hip  !  hip  !  hun-ah ! ' "  So  saying,  and  with  a  know- 
ing wink  at  Coverdale,  who.  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  encouraged 
him  in  his  inclination  to  be  impei-tinent  to  DAlmayne,  Master  Tom 
tossed  down  his  glass  of  champagne  amidst  a  general  chorus  of 
laughter.  And  thus  the  "dejeuner"  passed  off  to  all  appearance 
men-ily  enough;  though  in  two,  if  not  more,  of  the  company,  a 
smiling  exterior  hid  an  aching  heart. 

"  Have  you  seen  the  rabbit  waiTen  yet,  Mr.  Coverdale  ?  Do  come, 
there  are  such  a  lot  of  the  beggars  jumping  about !  I  found  my  way 
there  before  limcheon,  and  it  won't  take  long,"  exclaimed  Tom  Hazle- 
hurst,  gi-asping  Hany's  arm  imploringly. 

"  It  strikes  me  I  shall  be  considered  especially  rude  if  I  again 
absent  myself,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Who  by  ? — the  women  ?  "  inquired  Tom,  scornfully.  "  Never 
mind  them — poor,  weak-minded,  fickle  things ;  there  is  nothing  I 
consider  a  greater  nuisance  than  to  have  a  pack  of  silly  girls 
dangling  about  one,  that  won't  leave  a  fellow  alone ;  there,  you 
needn't  toss  youi*  head  and  tui'n  up  yoiu*  nose  about  it,  Emily, 
beneficent  Natiu-e's  done  that  for  you  sufficiently  already.  Now  will 
you  come,  Mr.  Coverdale  ?  there  are  some  black  rabbits  among  them, 
such  rum  shavers  !  " 

"  Ai-e  there  ?  "  exclaimed  Haia-y,  eagerly.  "  I  wonder  whether  I 
could  contrive  to  buy  a  few  couples  of  them ;  I  want  to  get  some 
black  rabbits  at  the  park  excessively ;  come  along,  for  our  time  is 
gi'owing  short,  I  expect."  And  as  he  spoke,  Coverdale  strode  off, 
entii-ely  forgetful  of  the  pretty  Emily,  with  whom,  on  the  strength 
of  her  juvenility,  he  had  considered  he  might  safely  allow  himself  to 
laugh  and  talk,  and  to  whom  he  had,  therefore,  been  unconsciously 
rendering  himself  very  agreeable. 

The  wan-en  was  further  than  he  had  expected  it  would  be,  and  the 
black  rabbits  were  so  long  before  they  chose  to  show  themselves, 
that  Han*y  began  to  grow  sceptical  as  to  their  existence ;  even  when 
they  did  appear,  a  gamekeeper  had  to  be  routed  out,  and  terms  for 
the  transfer  of  ten  couples  to  Coverdale  Park  agi-eed  upon ;  so  that 
by  the  time  Tom  and  his  companion  rejoined  the  pleasure-seekers, 
there  were  but  few  left  to  rejoin.  These  few  consisted  of  the  old 
maiden  aunt;  a  time-honoured  female  friend  of  the  same — older, 
uglier,  still  more  like  a  hii^popotamus,  and  with  a  double  portion  of 
the  vinegar  of  inhuman  unkindness  in  her  nature ;  and,  lastly,  a 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF   IT  35 

plain  youn^  lady,  tbe  daughter  of  nobody  in  particular,  who  lived 
with  the  time-honoured  friend  as  companion,  in  a  state  of  chronic 
martyrdom,  for  which  perpetual  sacrifice  she  received  thirty  pounds 
a  year,  and  pel-mission  to  cry  herself  to  sleep  every  night,  in  misty 
wonderment  why  so  sad  a  ci-eature  as  she  was,  should  ever  have  been 
born  into  the  world.  Besides  tliis  uncomfortable  trio,  who  composed 
the  cargo  of  a  brougham,  and  were  rather  a  tight  fit,  there  remained 
Mr.  Crane  and  Alice,  who,  it  seemed,  were  waiting  for  the  phaeton, 
which  had  not  yet  made  its  appearance. 

"  Upon  my  word.  Miss  Hazlehurst,"  began  the  sour  friend, 
addressing  the  acidulated  aunt,  "  this  is  very  provoking,  ma'am ; 
it's  six  'o'clock,  and  it's  growing  cold,  land  it  will  be  quite  dusk 
before  we  get  home ;  and  I  really  believe  Miss  Corntoe  was  right 
this  moi'ning,  and  that  we  shall  have  a  wet  night  after  all." 

"  Shall  I  run  down  to  the  inn  and  see  what  causes  the  delay  ? 
I  must  go  there  to  get  my  horse,"  inquired  Coverdale,  good- 
naturedly. 

"If  you  would  be  so  kind,  we  really  should  be  extremely  obliged 
to  you,"  returned  Miss  Hazlehurst  senior,  with  her  most  gracious 
and  least  hippopotamic  smile ;  and  thiis  urged,  Coverdale  huiTied  off. 
In  the  meantime  poor  Alice,  who  by  no  means  admired  the  posi- 
tion of  affairs,  and  had  mox-eover  been  considerably  alarmed  in  the 
morning  by  Mr.  Crane's  unskilful  di'iving,  whispered  a  pathetic 
appeal  to  her  aunt  to  be  allowed  to  accompany  the  brougham  party, 
— "  she  could  sit  on  the  box,  Wilson,  the  coachman,  was  so  incon- 
ceivably respectable,  and  she  was  almost  sure  it  would  not  rain ;  " — 
but  her  aunt  was  a  strong-minded  woman,  and  a  warm  advocate  of  the 
Crane  alliance,  and  she  would  not  hear  of  such  a  change  of  plan.  As 
soon  as  Coverdale  aiTived  within  sight  of  the  inn,  he  perceived  the 
missing  phaeton  standing  in  front  of  the  doorway,  the  horses  ready 
haraessed,  and  the  groom  seated  on  the  driving-seat;  accordingly  he 
made  signs  to  him  to  come  on,  of  which,  for  some  unaccountable 
reason,  the  man  took  not  the  slightest  notice.  Surprised  at  this, 
Harry  made  the  best  of  his  way  to  the  spot,  and  on  reaching  it  dis- 
covered, from  the  swollen,  heated  look  of  the  fellow's  features,  and 
the  stupid,  obstinate  expression  which  characterized  them,  that  he 
had  been  di-inking  to  excess. 

"  Why,  the  man  is  intoxicated  ! "  exclaimed  Coverdale,  turning  to 
the  ostler,  who,  with  one  or  two  hulking  village  lads,  stood  staring 
at  the  coachman  with  a  grin  of  amusement  on  their  vacant  faces ; 
"why  did  not  you  make  him  get  down,  and  bring  the  carriage 
yourself  ?  " 

"  A  did  troy,  but  a  woldn't  budge  a  inch — a  be  properly  dnink,  to 
be  zure ! " 

"  Oh,  he  would  not,  eh  ?  "  inquired  Coverdale ;  then  turning  to  the 
groom,  he  continued,  "  Get  down  directly,  my  friend,  I  want  pai-ticu- 
larly  to  speak  to  you." 
To  this  the  groom  contrived  to  stammer  out  an  insolent  refusal, 


36  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

accompanied  by  a  recommendation  to  Coverdale  to  mind  liis  0"\vn 
business,  and  give  orders  to  his  own  servants. 

"  My  business  just  at  present  is  to  make  you  get  down  from  that 
phaeton,"  returned  Harry,  bis  eyes  flashing. 

"  Oh !  it  is,  is  it  ? — I  should  like  to  see  you  do  it,  that's  all !  "  re- 
joined the  other,  with  a  gesture  of  drunken  defiance. 

"  You  shall,"  was  the  concise  reply,  as,'directing  the  ostler  to  stand 
by  the  horses'  heads,  Coverdale,  ere  the  fellow  was  aware  of  his 
intention,  or  could  take  measures  to  prevent  him,  sprang  lightly  up, 
forced  the  reins  from  his  uncertain  grasp,  twisted  him  suddenly 
round,  then  placing  his  hands  under  his  arms,  lifted  him  by  sheer 
strength,  and  dropped  him  to  the  ground.  Having  performed  this 
feat  -with  the  neatness  and  celerity  of  some  harlequinade  trick,  he 
glanced  round  to  see  that  the  fellow  had  fallen  clear  of  the  wheels, 
and  taking  the  reins,  drove  off. 

While  this  little  affair  had  been  proceeding,  the  sky  had  become 
overcast,  and  a  few  large  drops  of  rain  came  pattering  heavily  to  the 
ground ;  alarmed  by  these  symptoms,  the  brougham  party  no  sooner 
perceived  the  phaeton  approaching,  than  they  scrambled  into  their 
vehicle  and  started.  As  their  road  lay  in  a  direction  opposite  to  that 
by  which  Coverdale  was  advancing,  they  were  nearly  out  of  sight  by 
the  time  he  reached  the  spot  where  Alice  and  Mr.  Crane  awaited 
him.  Jumping  down  with  the  reins  in  his  hand,  he  was  explaining 
to  the  owner  of  the  phaeton  the  plight  in  which  he  had  found  his 
servant,  when  a  faint  flash  of  lightning  glanced  across  the  sky, 
followed  after  an  interval  by  a  clap  of  distant  thunder,  at  which  the 
horses,  which  were  young  and  spirited,  began  to  prick  up  their  ears 
and  evince  such  unmistakable  signs  of  alarm,  that  their  master, 
fearing  they  were  about  to  dash  off,  ran  to  lay  hold  of  their  heads. 
Misfortune  often  brings  about  strange  associations.  If  any  one  had 
that  morning  told  Alice  Hazlehurst  that  before  the  day  should  be 
over  she  would  have  appealed  for  protection  to,  and  confided  in, 
"  Arfhiu-'s  cross,  disagreeable  friend,"  she  would  have  utterly  dis- 
believed the  statement — and  yet  so  it  was  to  be.  The  moment  Mr. 
Crane  left  her  side,  she  turned  to  Harry  exclaiming, — 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Coverdale,  I  am  so  frightened !  He  will  never  be  able 
to  manage  those  horses  :  he  could  scarcely  hold  them  in  this  morning, 
and  the  groom  was  forced  to  get  down  to  them  twice — he  does  not 
know  how  to  drive  one  bit !  " 

Poor  little  Alice !  she  was  trembling  from  head  to  foot,  and  looked 
so  pretty  and  interesting  in  her  alarm,  that  Hariy  felt  peculiar,  he 
didn't  exactly  know  how,  about  it. 

"  I'll  speak  to  Mr.  Crane,  and  persuade  him  to  let  me  drive  you 
home,"  he  replied  eagerly.  (He  would  have  knocked  him  down 
without  the  smallest  hesitation,  if  Alice  had  in  the  slightest  degree 
prefen-ed  it.)  "  I've  been  accustomed  to  horses  all  my  life,  and  have 
not  a  doubt  of  being  able  to  manage  these,  even  if  the  thunder 
should  startle  them ;  so  please  don't  look  so  frightened." 


AND  ALLiTHAT  CAME  OF  IT  37 

And  as  Hany  said  tliis  with  his  very  brightest,  kindest  smile, 
Alice  wondered  she  had  never  before  noticed  how  handsome  he  was, 
and  began  to  think  he  could  not  be  so  very  cross  after  all. 

When  Hany  lu-ged  his  request,  Mr.  Crane  was  considerably 
embaiTassed  as  to  the  nature  of  his  reply.  In  his  secret  soul  he  was 
delighted  to  be  relieved  from  the  danger  and  responsibility  of  driving 
Alice  and  himself  home  through  a  thunder-storm ;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  he  could  not  disguise  the  fact,  that  by  allowing  himself  to  be 
so  relieved,  he  should  detract  from  the  heroic  style  of  character  he 
wished  Alice  to  impute  to  him.  Had  it  been  D  Almayne  instead  of 
Coverdale  who  sought  to  become  his  substitute,  he  would  probably, 
at  the  hazard  of  breaking  his  own  neck  and  that  of  his  lady-love, 
have  refused  to  permit  him ;  but  he  had  observed,  as  indeed  he  must 
have  been  blind  if  he  had  not  done,  Harry's  marked  avoidance  of  the 
young  lady,  and  trusting  to  these  liis  mysogynistic  principles  he. 
with  many  excuses  and  much  circumlocution,  agreed  to  Hairy's 
proposal  that  he  should  ride  his  horse,  and  allow  him  to  drive  the 
phaeton. 

"  Ahem ! — if  the  storm  should  come  on  violently,"  observed  the 
cotton-spinner,  as  a  second  growl  of  thunder  became  audible,  '"  I 
shall  wait  till  it  has  subsided ;  so  don't  let  them  expect  me  till  they 
see  me :  getting  wet  always  gives  nie  cold." 

"  All  right,  sir,"  returned  Harry,  as  he  wrapped  Alice  carefully  up 
in  his  own  mackintosh ;  "  take  care  of  yourself  by  all  means — good 
people  are  scarce.  We  shall  see  nothing  more  of  friend  Crane  to- 
night," he  continued,  as  he  drove  off ;  "  the  old  gentleman  is  very 
decidedly  alarmed — that  is,  I  suppose  I  ought  not  to  call  him  an  old 
gentleman,"  he  stammered,  suddenly  recollecting  with  whom  he  was 
conversing. 

"  Why  should  you  not  when  he  is  so?  "  returned  Alice,  innocently. 
Han-y  turned  his  head  away  to  conceal  a  smile  which  the  "  naivet6  " 
of  the  reply  had  called  forth,  muttering  to  himself  as  he  did  so, 
"  Poor  Crane  ! " 

After  a  few  minvites'  silence,  Alice  began  abruptly,  and  apolo- 
getically,— 

"  I'm  sure  I  ought  to  feel  very  much  obliged  to  you,  Mr.  Coverdale 
—and  indeed  I  do;  this  is  the  second  really  good-natured  thing 
you've  done  by  me  to-day." 

The  tone  in  which  she  spoke  so  completely  betrayed  that  sui-prise 
was  the  feeling  uppermost  in  her  mind,  that  Han-y,  slightly  piqued, 
could  not  help  replying, — 

"  You  did  not,  then,  give  me  credit  for  possessing  the  least  particle 
of  good-nature  ?  " 
Alice  smiled  as  she  answered, — 

"  If  I  had  had  a  proper  degree  of  faith  in  Arthur's  representations 
I  need  not  have  felt  surprise." 

The  delicate  irony  of  this  reply  was  not  lost  upon  Coverdale ;  bu 
he  knew  that  he  had  deserved  it,  and,  with  the  ready  frankness 


38  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

which  was  one  of  his  best  characteristics,  he  hastened  to  acknow- 
ledge it. 

"  I  certainly  have  done  little  towards  practically  vindicating  the 
character  yoiu-  brother's  partiality  has  bestowed  upon  me,"  he  said  ; 
"but  I  must  be  allowed  to  plead  in  justification,  that  I  am  quite 
aware  of  my  own  deficiencies,  and  told  Ai-thur  that  I  had  been 
roughing  it  abroad  so  long,  that  I  was  totally  unfitted  for  ladies' 
society.  He  would  not  admit  the  excuse ;  but  it  was  a  full,  true,  and 
sxTfficient  one,  nevei-tlieless." 

As  he  uttered  the  last  words,  a  dazzling  flash  of  lightning 
appeared  almost  to  envelop  them,  followed  instantaneously  by 
a  deafening  peal  of  thunder.  Half  blinded  by  the  blaze  of  light,  the 
frightened  horses  stopped  abritptly,  then  terrified  at  the  prolonged 
thunder,  tried  to  tm-n  short  round  ;  foiled  in  this  attempt  by  the  skill 
and  promptitude  of  their  driver,  they  began  rearing  and  plunging  in 
a  way  which  threatened  every  moment  to  overturn  the  phaeton. 
Fortunately  the  road  happened  to  be  unusually  wide  at  this  point, 
and  Hairy,  who  never  throughout  the  affair  in  the  slightest  degree  lost 
his  presence  of  mind,  deciding  that  whatever  might  most  effectually 
frighten  the  horses,  would  create  the  impulse  they  would  eventually 
obey,  determined  to  try  the  effect  of  a  little  judicious  discipline. 
Accordingly,  standing  up,  he  began  to  administer  the  whip  to  their 
sleek  sides  with  an  amount  of  strength  and  determination  which, 
from  the  contrast  it  afforded  to  the  mild  and  timid  driving  to  which 
they  were  accustomed,  so  astonished  the  animals,  that  bounding 
forward  with  a  snatch  which  tried  the  soundness  of  their  harness, 
they  dashed  off  at  a  fiu-ious  gallop ;  at  the  same  moment,  a  second 
peal  of  thunder,  even  louder  than  the  preceding  one,  increased  their 
alarm  to  siich  a  degree,  that  Coverdale,  despite  his  utmost  efforts, 
found  it  completely  beyond  his  power  to  hold  them  in. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HARET  CONDESCENDS  TO   PLAT  THE  AGREEABLE. 

"  Miss  Hazlehurst  !— Alice  !  are  you  mad?     Only  ^t  still,  don't 
go  and  scream  or  anything,  and  all  will  come  right." 

Thus  appealed  to,  or  rather  commanded— for  the  tone  of  the 
speaker's  voice  was  unmistakably  imperative — Alice,  who  when  the 
horses  bolted  had  half  risen  from  her  seat,  and  in  an  agony  of  teiror 
glanced  round  as  though  she  meditated  an  attempt  to  jump  out,  shrank 
down  again,  and  covering  her  eyes  with  her  hands,  remained  per- 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        39 

fectly  still  and  motionless,  tlins  enabling  Coverdale  to  devote  his 
whole  attention  to  the  horses.  The  terrified  animals,  after  galloping 
nearly  a  mile,  their  fears  being  kept  alive  by  repeated  flashes  of 
lightning  and  peals  of  thunder,  while  a  perfect  deluge  of  rain  con- 
verted the  dusty  road!  beneath  their  feet  into  a  morass,  at  length 
began  to  relax  their  speed.  As  soon  as  Harry  perceived  this  to  be 
the  case,  he  turned  to  his  companion,  saying,  "  There,  Miss  Hazle- 
hurst,  I  have  got  them  in  hand  again,  they'i'e  quite  under  command 
now,  and  the  worst  of  the  stonn  is  over  too,  so  you  needn't  be 
frightened  any  longer ;  you  have  behaved  like  a  " — (regular  brick 
was  the  simile  that  rose  to  his  lips,  but  he  refrained,  and  substituted) 
— "  complete ,  heroine,  since  you  overcame  that  slightly  insane 
impulse  to  commit  suicide  by  jiTmping  out." 

Reassured  by  his  manner,  Alice  ventured  to  open  her  eyes,  and  the 
first  use  she  made  of  them  was  to  fix  them  upon  the  countenance  of 
her  companion,  sti-iving  to  read  therein  whether  the  hopes  with 
which  he  sought  to  inspire  her  were  true  or  false.  But  Harry's  was 
a  face  about  which  thei'e  could  be  no  mistake ;  truth  and  honesty 
were  wi-itten  in  every  featm-e  so  legibly,  that  the  veriest  tyro  in 
physiognomy  cordd  not  fail  at  once  to  perceive  them. 

"  How  fortunate  it  was  that  you  were  di'iving,  and  not  Mr.  Crane  !  " 
were  the  first  words  Alice  uttered;  "  we  should  have  been  overturned 
to  a  certainty  if  the  horses  had  behaved  so  this  moiming.  I'll  take 
good  care  not  to  let  him  di'ive  me  again.  How  cleverly  you  managed 
the  creatures  when  they  were  phmging  and  rearing  !  I  should  never 
have  dared  to  whip  them  while  they  were  in  that  furious  state,  but  it 
answered  capitally." 

"  Yoii  observed  that,  did  you  ?  "  inquired  Harry  in  a  tone  of 
siu'prise. 

Alice  favoured  him  with  a  quick  glance,  as  she  replied,  half  archly, 
half  petulantly,  "  Of  course  I  did  ;  what  a  stupid  siDy  little  thing  you 
seem  to  consider  me  !  " 

HaiTy  paused  for  a  minute  ere  he  rejoined,  laughingly,  "You 
know  nothing  about  what  I  consider  you.  Miss  Hazlehiu'st,  and 
therefore  I  advise  you  not  to  form  any  theories  whatsoever  on  the 
subject,  as  they  are  tolerably  cei-tain  to  be  wrong  ones." 

"  I  daresay  you.  have  never  given  yourself  the  trouble  to  reflect  at 
all  on  so  fi-ivolous  a  topic,"  returned  Alice  ;  "  I  know  your  heterodox 
notions  in  regard  to  our  sex ;  you  consider  us  all  simpletons." 

"  I'm  sure  I  never  told  you  so,"  Avas  aU  the  denial  Harry's  con- 
science permitted  him  to  make. 

"  Not '  viva  voce,'  perhaps,"  replied  Alice ;  "  but  I  have  heard  it 
second-hand  from  Master  Tom :  the  boy  was  vmcomplimentary 
enough  before  you  came,  but  he  has  been  fifty  times  worse  since 
you've  been  here  to  encourage  him  in  his  impertinence." 

"  A  young  cub  !  "  muttered  HaiTy  aside,  "  I'll  twist  his  neck  if  he 

teUs  tales  out  of  school  in  this  way ;  "  turning  to  Alice,  he  continued, 

'  it  is  never  too  late  to  mend,  is  it  ?    If  I  confess  my  sins,  promise 


40  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

never  to  do  so  any  more,  and  throw  myself  on  the  mercy  of  the  com-t, 
is  there  any  chance  of  my  obtaining  forgiveness  ?  " 

"As  far  as  I  am  concerned,  yes,"  was  the  reply;  "in  consideration 
of  your  sendees  this  afternoon,  I  graciously  accord  you  a  free  pardon 
for  all  past  offences,  and  for  the  futiu-e  we  will  try  and  be  fi-iends." 
As  she  spoke  she  half  playfully,  half  in  earnest,  held  out  her  hand. 
HaiTy  took  it  in  his  own,  and  shook  it — even  in  a  glove  it  was  a  nice, 
warm,  soft  little  hand,  a  kind  of  hand  that  it  was  impossible  to  relin- 
quish without  giving  it  a  squeeze,  at  least  such  was  Hari-y'slimpression, 
and  he  acted  upon  it,  although  to  do  so  was  by  no  means  in  accord- 
ance with  his  iDrinciples;  but  he  did  not  happen  to  be  thinking 
about  his  x>rinciples  just  then.  By  this  time  the  storm,  which  had 
pretty  well  exhausted  itself  by  its  violence,  resigned  in  favour  of  a 
lovely  sunset;  and  the  horses  having  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
they  had  thoroughly  disgraced  themselves,  and  behaved  with  an 
equal  disregard  of  i^rinciple  and  propriety,  trotted  steadily  along 
under  Coverdale's  skilful  guidance,  like  a  pair  of  four-legged 
penitents,  anxious  to  retrieve  their  character.  And  HaiTy  and  Alice 
sviddenly  found  a  great  deal  to  talk  about,  and  were  quite  surprised 
when  they  perceived  themselves  to  be  in  sight  of  the  Grange  ;  and  the 
gentleman  felt  moved  by  a  sudden  impulse  to  declare  that,  despite 
its  rmpropitious  commencement,  he  did  not  know  when  he  had 
had  such  a  delightful  drive,  to  which  the  lady  replied  that  it  certainly 
had  been  veiy  agreeable,  an  admission  which  she  endeavoured 
to  qualify  by  attributing  her  pleasurable  sensations  to  the  influence 
of  the  setting  sun  and  the  delicious  coolness  of  the  evening  air — 
a  transparent  attempt  at  decei^tion  that  only  rendered  the  tmth 
more  obvious. 

The  next  morning  a  groom  brought  back  Sir  Lancelot,  together 
with  a  note  from  Mr.  Crane,  saying  that  he  had  contrived  to  get  wet 
thi-ough  on  his  way  to  the  inn,  that  he  feared  he  had  taken  cold,  and 
therefore  considered  it  most  prudent  to  return  home  for  a  day  or 
two ;  adding  that  he  should  hope  to  be  sufficiently  convalescent  to 
rejoin  the  pai-ty  at  the  Grange  that  day  week,  when  a  dinner  was  to 
be  given  by  Mr.  Hazlehurst  to  some  of  the  county  magnates.  His 
note  wound  up  with  an  elaborate  inquiry  as  to  whether  Alice  had 
expei'ienced  any  ill-effects  from  the  "  atmospheric  inclemency,"  as  he 
was  pleased  to  style  the  thunder-storm,  accomj^anied  by  an  infallible 
specific  against  all  sore  throats,  colds,  hoarsenesses,  and  rheumatic 
affections,  which  that  yoimg  lady  straightway  committed  to  the 
waste-paper  basket.  There  was  also  a  note  for  Horace  D'Almayne, 
from  which  dropped  an  inclosui'e  that,  as  the  exquisite  stooped  to 
pick  it  up,  looked  marvellously  like  a  cheque. 

"  A — really  I  find  I  must  go  to  town — a — business  of  importance — 
can  I  execute  any  little  commissions  for  you,  Miss  Hazlehurst  ?  I've 
excellent  taste  in  ribands,  I  assure  you." 

"  There,  do  you  hear  that  ?  "  observed  Tom  "  sotto  voce  "  to  Cover- 
dale.    "  I  always  thought  he'd  been  a  coimter- jumper ! " 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  41 

"  Kate,  must  I  accompany  him  ?  "  inquired  Ai-thur  of  his  cousin, 
"  sotto  voce  " ;  "  remember,  if  you  send  me  from  you  now,  we  meet 
a^ain  as  strangers  !  "  There  was  a  moment's  struggle,  and  her  coloiu- 
went  and  came — then  in  a  cold,  hard  voice  she  answered,  "  Yes, 
go!" 

Arthur  looked  at  her ;  her  features  might  have  been  sculptured  in 
marble,  so  fixed  and  immovable  was  their  expression.  That  look 
decided  him ;  and  with  set  teeth  and  lowering  brow  he  rose  and 
quitted  the  room. 

In  less  than  half  an  hour  he  returned,  prepared  for  a  journey  ;  and 
beckoning  Coverdale  aside,  began,  "  Harry,  I  have  a  favour  to  ask  of 
you.  I  am  obliged  to  go  to  town  suddenly,  in  consequence  of  an 
afBair  which  has  caused  me  some  annoyance  ;  but  I  shall  come  back 
for  the  dinner-party  on  the  — th.  Crane  will  also  retm-n  then ;  and 
from  what  I  can  make  out,  Alice's  affair  will  be  definitely  settled  one 
way  or  other.  The  more  I  see  of  Crane,  the  more  I  perceive  how 
thoroughly  he  and  Alice  are  imsuited ;  but  my  father  appears 
obstinately  bent  on  the  match :  and  if  Alice  is  to  refuse  him,  she  will 
require  all  the  support  that  can  be  given  her.  My  poor  mother's 
health  is,  as  you  are  aware,  so  delicate,  that  although  she  is  as  much 
averse  to  the  match  as  any  of  us,  we  cannot  expect  her  to  exert  her- 
self ;  indeed,  our  chief  anxiety  is  to  prevent  her  attempting  to  do  so. 
The  whole  thing  will,  therefore,  fall  upon  me :  and  your  support  and 
assistance  will  be  invaluable.  My  father  has  taken  a  great  fancy  to 
you  ;  and  your  opinion  weighs  with  him  more  than  you  will  believe. 
I  am  sorry  to  perceive  that  you  are  bored  to  death  here ;  but  I  trust 
to  your  friendship  to  remain  till  after  my  return.  Am  I  taxing  your 
kind  feeling  too  far  ?  " 

"  My  dear  boy,  don't  make  pretty  speeches  ;  for  I  can  stand  any- 
thing but  that,"  was  the  reply.  "  As  to  staying  here,  I  had  no  thought 
of  going  away  till  you  had  done  with  me.  In  regard  to  being  bored, 
I'm  getting  over  that  beautifully.  Your  family  are  charming  jieople. 
I'm  becoming  used  to  women's  society,  and,  in  fact,  find  it's  not  by  any 
means  as  bad  as  imagination  painted  it ;  and  when  DAlmayne  is 
fairly  out  of  the  house,  I  really  shall  not  care  how  long  I  remain  in 
it ;  so  will  that  satisfy  you  ?  " 

"  My  dear  fellow,"  rejoined  Hazlehurst,  warmly,  "  there's  nobody 
like  you  in  the  world  !  I've  always  said  so,  from  the  day  that  I  first 
set  eyes  on  you  at  Eton,  when  you  thrashed  the  bully  of  the  form  for 
striking  me,  and  then  boxed  my  ears  because  I  took  a  blow  from  a 
boy  less  than  myself,  without  returning  it.  I  shall  never  quite  turn 
misanthrope  while  I've  you  for  a  friend." 

"  Misanthrope  !  no,  why  should  you  ?  "  was  the  surprised  rejoinder. 
"  What  ails  you,  man  ? — you  look  ill  and  luiliappy.  It's  nothing  in 
the  money  way,  is  it  ?  I've  got  a  few  odd  thousands  lying  idle  at  my 
bankers,  that  I  should  really  be  obliged  to  you  to  make  use  of." 

Hazlehurst  shook  his  friend's  hand  heartily.  "  God  bless  you,  old 
fellow!  I  know  you  would,"  he  said;  "but  money  can't  help  me  :  I 


42  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

must  fight  it  out  alone.  I  shall  be  myself  again  by  the  time  I  return 
— till  then,  good-bye,"  and  wi-inging  Coverdale's  hand  once  more,  he 
turned  and  was  gone. 

"  Alice,  here's  a  treat !  evei-ybody's  going  away  except  that  hoiTid 
Harry  Coverdale!  "  exclaimed  Emily,  in  a  tone  of  despair;  "  we  shall 
have  him  on  om-  hands,  talking  stable,  and  wishing  we  were  dogs  and 
horses,  for  a  whole  week  !    What  are  we  to  do  with  the  creatui-e  ?  " 

Alice  tiu-ned  her  head  to  hide  her  heightened  colour,  as  she 
replied,  in  a  tone  of  voice  that  was  almost  cross,  "  Really,  Emily,  you 
should  be  careful  not  to  carry  that  absurd  habit  of  yoiu'S  of  laughing 
at  everybody  too  far.  People  -will  begin  to  call  you  flippant.  Mr. 
Coverdale  is  so  good-natured  that  he  is  the  easiest  person  in  the 
world  to  entertain.  Sui-ely,  Arthur  has  a  right  to  ask  his  friend  to 
remain  here  without  consulting  you  or  me  on  the  subject." 

"  Phew  ! "  whistled  Emily,  and  a  droll  little  parody  of  a  whistle  it 
was ;  "  the  wind  has  changed,  has  it  ?  I  suppose  that  was  the 
thunder-storm  yesterday;  not  to  mention  a  certain  "tete-a-tete" 
drive.  Take  care.  Ally  :  recollect  that  sweet  bird  the  Crane  !  what 
does  the  song  say  ?  "  and  popping  herself  down  at  the  pianofoi'te,  she 
ran  her  fingers  lightly  over  the  keys,  as  she  sang  with  mischievous 
archness : — 

"  'Tis  good  to  be  merry  and  wise, 
"lis  good  to  be  honest  and  true, 
'Tis  good  to  be  off  with  the  old  love 
Before  you  are  on.  with  the  new." 

The  party  which  sat  down  to  dinner  at  Hazlehurst  Grange  on  that 
day  was  a  very  select  one.  Mr.  Hazlehurst  had  driven  over  to  the 
neighboiuing  town  on  justice  business,  and  having  sentenced  certain 
deer-stealers  to  undergo  divers  unpleasantnesses  in  the  way  of  oakum- 
picking,  solitary  confinement,  and  other  such  amenities  of  prison 
discipline,  had  stayed  to  reward  virtue  by  dining  with  his  brother- 
magistrates  upon  orthodoxly-slaughtered  venison.  Accordingly, 
Mrs.  Hazlehurst  and  the  three  young  ladies,  Hari-y  Coverdale  and 
Master  Tom,  sat  down  to  what  Mrs.  Malaprop  would  have  termed 
"  quite  a  '  tete-a-tete '  dinner  "  together ; — a  tame  and  docile  curate, 
invited  on  the  spur  of  the  moment  to  counterbalance  Hairy,  having 
missed  fire,  owing  to  the  untimely  repentance  of  a  perverse  old 
female  parishioner,  who,  being  taken  poorly  and  penitent  simultane- 
ously, had  sent  her  imperative  compliments  to  the  Rev.  B.  A.  A. 
Lambkin,  and  she  would  feel  obliged  by  his  coming  to  convert  her  at 
his  very  earliest  possible  convenience  ;  to  which  serious  call  he  felt 
obliged  to  respond. 

Coverdale  had  found  himself  in  an  unusual  and  peculiar  frame  of 
mind  all  day  ;  for  perhaps  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  had  felt  disin- 
clined to  active  exertion ;  and  had  positively  gone  the  length  of 
abstracting  from  the  library  a  volume  of  Byron,  and  spent  the  after- 
noon lying  under  a  tree,  reading  the  "  Bride  of  Abydos."  Now  his 
peculiarity  took  a  newtiu-n;  and,  freed  from  his  incubus,  DAlmayne, 
a  sense  of  the  domestic  and  sociable  suddenly  sprang  up  within  him, 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        43 

and  throwing  off  all  reserve,  lie  appeared  for  the  first  time  during  his 
yisit  in  his  true  colours — that  is,  unaffected,  courteous,  kind-heai-ted, 
amusing,  and  well-informed.  In  consequence  possibly  of  this  change, 
the  dinner  went  off  most  agreeably ;  and  the  absence  of  the  Reverend 
Lambkin  was  mentally  decreed  to  be  a  subject  of  thanksgi\'ing,  by 
more  than  one  member  of  the  party. 

In  the  evening  there  were  certain  wasps'  nests  to  be  destroyed, 
about  which  Harry  had  expressed  much  interest ;  but  now  he  dis- 
covered that  he  had  blistered  his  heel  on  the  previous  day,  by  running 
in  a  tight  boot ;  and  Tom,  mightily  discontented  at  his  defection, 
was  forced  to  invade  the  enemy's  country  without  the  assistance  of 
his  ally.  When  Coverdale  rejoined  the  ladies,  Emily  was  reading 
Tennyson's  "  Princess "  aloud,  and  the  moment  he  appeared,  she 
declared  she  was  tired,  and  handed  the  book  to  him,  begging  him  to 
proceed;  her  mischievous  intention  being  thereby  to  overwhelm  him 
with  confusion,  and  derive  amusement  from  his  conseqi^ent  mistakes. 
But  she  met  her  match  for  once,  as  Harry,  coolly  replying  that  he 
should  have  much  pleasure,  took  the  book  and  began  reading  in  a 
deep  rich  voice,  with  so  much  taste  and  feeling,  that  her  surprise 
soon  changed  to  admiration.  After  tea,  music  was  proposed,  and  the 
moment  Alice  began  to  sing,  Coverdale,  for  the  first  time  since  he 
had  been  in  the  house,  approached  the  piano,  and  actually  turned 
over  the  leaves  for  her ! 

"  That  lovely  '  La  ci  darem  ! '  Ah,  Alice  !  if  we  had  but  a  gentle- 
man's voice  to  take  the  second !  Why  don't  you  sing,  Mr.  Cover- 
dale  ?  "  exclaimed  Emily,  turning  over  the  pages  of  the  duet. 

"  I'D  try  what  I  can  do  if  you  wish  it,"  was  Coverdale's  quiet  reply. 

Alice,  to  whom  he  spoke,  glanced  at  him  in  speechless  surprise, 
but  Emily,  at  once  making  up  her  mind  that  he  was  attempting  a 
hoax,  and  eager  to  turn  the  tables  upon  him,  resumed, — 

•'  Bravo  !  give  me  your  seat,  Alice,  I'll  play  the  accompaniment  for 
you  both." 

Now  the  truth  was.  that  Harry  had  been  gifted  by  nature  with  a 
rich  powei-ful  voice  and  excellent  ear,  qualities  which  the  admiration 
of  his  "  set "  at  Cambridge  had  induced  him  to  cultivate.  When  he 
first  started  on  his  grand  tour,  he  encountered  at  Florence  the 
mother  and  sisters  of  an  old  college  friend,  and  those  being  the  days 
before  he  had  forsworn  young  ladies'  society,  he  was  let  in  for  a 
mild  flirtation  with  one  of  the  daughters.  The  "emphatic  she" 
happened  to  be  "  fanatica  per  la  musica."  Accordingly  for  three 
months  Han-y  took  lessons  of  the  best  master  in  the  place,  and 
sang  duets  morning,  noon,  and  night ;  at  the  end  of  which  period  the 
"  loved  one  "  bolted  with  a  black-bearded  native,  who  called  himself 
a  count,  and  was  a  courier.  Since  which  episode,  Harry,  disgusted 
with  the  whole  affair,  and  all  connected  with  it,  had  chiefly  confined 
his  singing  to  lyrical  declarations  that  he  would  "  not  go  home  till 
morning."  It  will  therefore  be  less  a  matter  of  surprise  to  the 
reader,  than  it  was  to  his  audience  at  the  Grange,  that  Coverdale 


44  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

performed  liis  pai-t  in  tlie  duet  with  equal  taste  and  skill,  and  very 
mucli  better  than  Alice  did  hers— that  young  lady  pronoimcing  her 
Italian  with  rather  a  midland-county  accent  than  otherwise, 
although  her  sweet,  fresh,  young  voice,  in  great  measure  atoned  for 
this  little  peculiarity. 

"  Why,  Mr.  Coverdale,  what  a  charming  voice  you  have,  and  how 
beautifully  you  sing ! "  exclaimed  Emily,  looking  at  him  as  if  she 
could  not  even  yet  believe  that  it  was  possible  he  should  have  so 
distinguished  himself.  "  I  thought  you  were  hoaxing  us,  and  I  sat 
down  to  play  the  duet  for  the  amiable  purpose  of  exposing  you.r 
ignorance." 

"  How  did  you  acquire  such  a  pure  Italian  accent  ?  "  asked  Mrs. 
Hazlehurst ;  "  it  will  be  of  the  greatest  advantage  to  my  girls  to  sing 
with  you." 

"  I  learned  of  an  Italian  fellow  when  I  was  at  Florence,  and  I 
suppose  he  taught  me  to  do  the  business  all  right,"  was  the  careless 
reply. 

"  And  yoii  have  been  here  more  than  a  week,"  continued  Mrs. 
Hazlehiu'st,  "  and  allowed  Mr.  D Almayne  to  monopolize  both  the 
reading  and  singing  department,  though  he  cannot  fill  either  one 
quarter  as  eflficiently  as  you  are  able  to  do.  You  really  are  too 
diffident." 

"  I  don't  imagine  diffidence  to  have  had  very  much  to  do  with  it," 
observed  Kate  Marsden,  quietly  raising  her  eyes  from  her  work  (a 
crochet  piirse  with  steel  beads),  and  fixing  them  on  Coverdale. 

Harry  laughed  slightly  as  with  heightened  colour  he  replied, 
"  You  are  too  clever.  Miss  Marsden.  I  by  no  means  approve  of 
being  subjected  to  such  subtle  clairvoyance ;  however,  I  may  as  well 
honestly  confess  that  you  are  right,  and  that  a  feeling  more  akin  to 
pride  than  to  humility  has  prevented  my  seeking  to  rival  Mr. 
D'Almayne." 

"  We  have  found  you  out  at  last  thoiigh,"  returned  Emily,  "  and  1 
for  one  will  do  my  best  to  punish  you  for  your  idleness,  by  making 
you  sing  every  song  I  can  think  of.  I  don't  believe  it  was  either 
pride  or  humility  which  kept  you  silent — it  was  nothing  but  sheer 
idleness." 

"  Judging  of  her  principles  from  her  practice,  I  can  readily  believe 
Miss  Emily  Hazlehurst  must  consider  silence  to  result  from  some 
reprehensible  cause,"  replied  Coverdale,  with  a  meaning  smile. 

Of  course  Emily  made  a  pert  rejoinder,  and  of  course  Coverdale 
was  forced  to  sing  half-a-dozen  more  songs,  which,  as  he  had  by  this 
time  got  up  the  steam  considerably,  he  did  in  a  style  which  won  him 
fresh  laurels ;  but  it  was  a  remarkable  fact,  that  from  the  moment  in 
which  Harry  began  to  read  aloiid,  Alice,  although  her  attention  had 
never  flagged,  had  scarcely  uttered  a  single  word— perhaps  it  was 
because  she  thought  the  more. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  45 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CONTAINS   LITTLE   ELSE    SAVE   MOONSHINE. 

Mrs.  Hazlehurst  was  so  confii-med  an  invalid  as  to  be  unable  to 
walk,  even  so  short  a  distance  as  from  the  drawing-room  to  her  own 
bed-room,  whither  she  was  nsually  carried  by  either  her  husband  or 
her  son.  She  was  in  the  habit  of  retiring  at  nine  o'clock,  but  on  the 
evening  referred  to  in  the  last  chapter  the  clock  chimed  the  haK-hour 
after  nine,  and  Mr.  Hazlehurst  had  not  returned. 

"  Mamma,  dear,  you  are  looking  tired — you  ought  not  to  sit  up  so 
late ! "  exclaimed  Alice,  who  had  been  observing  her  mother  atten- 
tively for  some  minutes.  "  Do  allow  Evans  to  carry  you  up :  papa 
is  sometimes  kept  till  eleven  o'clock  at  these  magistrates'  meetings, 
you  know." 

One  great  charm  which  Alice  possessed  in  Han-y's  eyes  was  her 
devotion  to  her  mother,  for  whom  she  entertained  an  affection  which 
was,  perhaps,  one  of  the  strongest  feelings  of  her  nature. 

"  I  had  rather  wait,  dear,"  was  the  patient  reply  : — "  the  worthy 
Evans  is  growing  fat  and  old,  and  I  am  always  afraid  of  his  falling ; 
and  James  is  very  willing,  poor  lad,  but  he  is  so  awkward  that  he 
rubs  me  against  all  the  comers  we  pass,  and  only  escapes  knocking 
my  brains  out  by  a  succession  of  miracles." 

"  If  you  would  allow  me  to  assist  you,  Mrs.  Hazlehurst,"  began 
Coverdale,  in  a  hesitating  voice,  as  though  he  were  about  to  ask 
rather  than  to  confer  a  favour — "  I  am  siu-e  I  could  carry  you  safely; 
I  have  observed  exactly  how  Arthur  holds  you,  and  it  would  give  me 
so  much  pleasure  to  be  of  use  to  you." 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  returned  Mrs.  Hazlehurst,  while  a  glow  of 
grateful  siu-prise  coloured  her  pale  cheeks;  "but  I  cannot  bear  to 
give  you  the  trouble — you  do  not  know  how  heavy  I  am." 

"  You  do  not  know  how  strong  I  am,  my  dear  madam,"  was  the 
good-natm"ed  rejoinder;  "allow  me — that  I  think  is  right,"  and 
raising  the  light  form  of  the  invalid  in  his  powerful  arms  he  carried 
her,  as  easily  and  tenderly  as  a  mother  would  her  child,  to  her  room, 
where  carefully  depositing  her  in  an  easy-chair,  he  wished  her  good 
night,  and  left  her,  withoiit  waiting  to  receive  her  thanks, 

"  Alice,  love,  Emily  will  stay  and  read  to  me — go  down  and  tell  Mr. 
Coverdale  how  much  obliged  I  am ;  he  carried  me  as  comfoi-tably  as 
if  he  had  been  in  the  constant  habit  of  doing  so  for  years.  The  kind- 
ness of  heart,  and  delicacy  of  feeling  with  which  he  made  the  offer, 
have  gratified  me  exceedingly ;  depend  upon  it  he  is  an  unusually 
amiable,  excellent  yoimg  man." 


46  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"He  certainly  appears  in  a  new  character  to-night."  returned 
Emily,  laughing;  "hitherto  he  has  performed  the  modern  Timon 
most  naturally  and  successfully.  I  wonder  what  made  the  creature 
take  it  into  his  head  to  act  the  man — or  rather  the  woman — hater  ! 
You'd  better  ask  him,  Alice,  perhaps  he  will  tell  you  ! — What,  gone 
already ! "  she  continued,  glancing  round  the  room.  "  Well  then, 
mamma  dear,  as  there  seems  to  be  no  more  fun  forthcoming,  let  me 
give  you  your  dose  of  Jeremy  Taylor  ;  that  is  our  present  good  book, 
I  believe." 

A  reproof  for  the  levity  with  which  Emily  spoke  rose  to  her 
mother's  lips  ;  but  Mrs.  Hazlehurst  was  a  sensible  woman  as  well  as 
a  good  one,  and  so,  being  able  to  distinguish  between  the  exuberance 
of  high  spirits  and  a  scoffing  turn  of  mind,  she  only  murmured, 
"  Silly  child,"  and  shook  her  head,  with  a  reproving  smile. 

When  Alice  returned  to  the  drawing-room  she  at  first  imagined  it 
to  be  tenantless  ;  but  on  looking  more  attentively  she  perceived  the 
tall  figure  of  HaiTy  Coverdale  standing  with  folded  arms  in  the 
recess  of  one  of  the  windows.  So  noiselessly  did  she  enter  that 
Harry,  whose  face  was  turned  away  from  the  door,  was  not  aware  of 
her  approach  until  she  was  within  a  few  yards  of  him.  As  with  a 
sudden  start  he  looked  round,  she  was  svirj^rised  to  observe  the 
traces  of  deep  emotion  visible  on  his  features,  which  were  usually 
characterized  by  an  expi-ession  of  so  completely  opposite  a  nature. 
With  a  miu'mured  apology  for  intruding  on  him.  Alice  was  about  to 
withdraw,  when  Coverdale  hastened  to  prevent  her. 

"  Do  not  run  away,"  he  said  quickly,  then  continued.  "  Tou  are 
surprised  to  see  me  look  sad ;  I  think  I  should  like,  if  you  will 
permit  me,  to  tell  you  the  cause.  It  is  so  seldom  I  meet  with  any- 
body to  whom  I  can  talk  about  such  things — people  in  general  would 
not  understand  me,  but  I  feel  an  instinctive  certainty  that  you  will. 
It  is  such  a  lovely  night,  would  you  object  to  come  out?  Your 
cousin,  Miss  Marsden,  is  already  enjoying  the  moonlight."  As  he 
spoke,  he  pointed  to  a  white  figure  pacing,  with  bent  head  and 
measured  steps,  along  a  teiTace-walk  on  the  further  side  of  the  lawn. 
Throwing  a  shawl  over  her  head  to  protect  herself  from  the  night 
dew,  Alice  signified  her  consent,  and  opening  one  of  the  French 
windows,  they  descended  into  the  garden.  For  some  minutes  they 
strolled  on  side  by  side  without  speaking;  the  silence  at  length 
becoming  embaiTassing,  Alice  broke  it  by  obser\'ing, — 

"  I  must  not  forget  to  deliver  mamma's  thanks  for  your  kindness. 
You  carried  her  so  easily  and  carefully,  she  says,  she  could  almost 
imagine  you  must  have  been  accustomed  to  such  an  occupation 
before." 

HaiTy  smiled  a  melancholy  smile.  "  That  was  what  I  was  going 
to  tell  you  about,"  he  said,  "  only  when  it  came  to  the  point,  I  felt  as 
if  it  were  impossible  to  begin.  Carrying  Mrs.  Hazlehurst  to-night 
brought  back  such  a  flood  of  recollections !  "  He  paused,  then  in  a 
low  tone  continued :  "  For  many  months  before  her  death  my  own 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        47 

poor  mother  became  perfectly  helpless,  and  I  used  to  can-y  her  like 
a  child  from  room  to  room.  I  was  only  seventeen  when  I  lost  her, 
and,  except  your  brother,  I  have  never  had  any  one  to  love  since ;  and 
though  Arthur  is  as  good  a  fellow  as  ever  breathed,  and  all  that  one 
can  wish  a  friend  to  be,  yet  somehow,  whether  it  is  the  diiference 
between's  a  man's  mind  and  a  woman's,  or  what,  I  cannot  tell,  but 
there  are  things  I've  never  talked  about  with  anybody  since  my 
mother  died,  because  I've  felt  that  nobody  else  could  understand 
me.  Perhaps,  if  she  had  lived,  I  might  have  been  more  what  I  some- 
times wish  I  were — less  rough,  and — but  I  do  not  know  why  I  should 
bore  you  with  what  must  be  singularly  unintei'esting  to  you." 

"  Pray  go  on,"  replied  Alice  ;  "  I  have  heard  so  much  of  you  from 
Arthur,  that  I  always  hoped  I  should  some  day  know  you  myself . 
and  that  we  might  become  friends;  but — "  here  she  stopped, 
apparently  embarrassed  how  to  proceed. 

Harry  came  to  her  assistance — "  But  when  I  did  appear,  I  made 
myself  so  disagreeable  that  you  naturally  repented  ever  having 
wasted  a  thought  upon  such  an  unamiable  savage.  Is  not  that  what 
you  would  have  said  ?  Well,  you  are  quite  right,  I  deserve  that  it 
should  be  so." 

There  was  a  degree  of  regretful  earnestness  in  his  voice  and 
manner  which  touched  Alice's  gentle  heart,  and  she  hastened  to 
reply,— 

"  Nay,  it  was  only  that  you  did  not  know  us ;  and — I  think  that 
silly  Mr.  D'Almayne  annoyed  you  with  his  airs  and  affectation  ;  but 
I  am  sure  you  will  never  be  so — so — " 

"  Brutish  !  "  suggested  Harry. 

"  So  unjust  to  yoiu'self  again,"  resumed  Alice. 

"  You  are  very  kind — kinder  than  I  deserve  by  far,"  i-eplied  Cover- 
dale.  He  paused,  then  continued,  "  I  don't  think  I  was  naturally 
such  a  bear ;  but  from  childhood  I  have  had  to  battle  with  the  world 
on  my  own  behalf.  Did  Arthur  ever  tell  you  any  of  my  earlier 
histoi*y  ?  " 

"  No ;  he  often  alluded  to  it  as  curious,  but  said  we  ought  to  see 
you  first,  and  then  we  should  understand  you  better  and  care  more 
to  hear  it,"  was  the  simple  reply. 

Harry  smiled.  "  The  only  romantic  episode  in  my  career  occui-red 
when  I  was  a  very  young  boy,"  he  said,  "  so  young,  that  if  I  had  not 
heard  the  story  over  and  over  again  from  the  mouth  of  my  late 
uncle,  the  old  Admiral.  I  should  scarcely  have  remembered  it.  To 
enable  you  to  comprehend  the  situation  properly,  I  must  trouble  you 
with  a  few  family  details.  My  grandfather  had  two  sons — the 
Admiral  the  elder,  and  my  father  the  younger.  My  father,  when  a 
lieutenant  in  a  marching  regiment,  fell  in  love  with  a  very  pretty, 
amiable,  but  portionless  girl ;  my  grandfather  desired  him  to  marry 
an  heiress ;  my  father  refused,  and  urged  his  affection  for  another ; 
my  grandfather  grew  imperative,  my  father  recusant ;  my  grandfather 
stormed,  my  father  persisted  ;  and  the  affair  ended  by  my  father 


48  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

maiTying  his  lady-love,  and  my  grandfather  disinheriting  him  for  so 
doing.  The  natural  consequences  ensued  :  my  grandfather  devoted 
his  fortune  and  influence  to  my  uncle's  advancement,  and  at  the  age 
of  fifty  he  became  an  admiral ;  at  the  same  age  my  father  found 
himself  a  captain,  existing  on  half -pay,  with  a  microscopic  pension 
and  an  incurable  wound  in  his  side,  as  rewards  for  having  served 
his  country.  '  England  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty,'  and 
occasionally  recompenses  him  for  it  with  honourable  starvation.  As 
my  father's  health  decreased  his  expenses  increased,  unpaid  doctors' 
bills  stared  him  in  the  face,  and  butchers  and  bakers  grew  uncivil 
and  imiDortunate. 

"At  my  grandfather's  death  he  left  every  farthing  he  possessed  to 
his  eldest  son.  Angry  at  the  injustice,  my  father  refused  his 
brother's  offer  of  an  allowance,  and  unwisely  determined  to  dispute 
the  will.  Accordingly,  he  not  only  lost  his  cause,  but  irritated  my 
imcle  to  such  a  degree,  that  all  communication  ceased  between  them. 
When  I  was  approaching  the  august  age  of  ten  years,  and  affairs 
seemed  to  be  coming  to  a  crisis,  by  some  chance  I,  playing  with  and 
apparently  absorbed  by  a  regiment  of  tin  soldiers,  happened  to  be 
present  at  a  family  committee  of  ways  and  means.  During  this 
colloquy,  the  unfortunate  disagreement  between  the  brothers  was 
talked  over  and  lamented  by  my  mother ;  who  exei-ted  all  her 
eloqiience  to  persuade  my  father  to  wi-ite  to  the  Admiral  and  inform 
him  of  his  failing  health  and  ruined  fortunes,  and  trust  to  his 
generosity  to  forgive  and  forget  the  past.  But  my  father's  pride 
stood  in  the  way.  He  would  willingly  have  been  reconciled  to  his 
bi'other,  if  he  had  not  required  pecxmiary  assistance  at  his  hands ; 
but  the  consciousness  of  this  necessity  rendered  him  inexorable.  So 
finding  his  wife's  arguments  unanswerable,  he  adopted  the  usual 
resource  in  such  cases — viz.,  he  talked  himself  into  a  rage,  and 
flinging  out  of  the  room,  slammed  the  door  behind  him,  leaving  my 
mother  and  me  '  tete-a-tete.' 

"  After  a  minute's  silence,  I  surprised  her  by  asking,  '  Papa's  very 
poor,  and  my  uncle's  very  rich ;  and  papa  would  ask  uncle  to  give 
him  some  money,  only  they  quarrelled  when  grandpapa  stopped 
papa's  pocket-money :  isn't  that  it,  mamma  ?  ' 

"'Yes,  my  dear,' was  the  reply;  'but  you  must  not  talk  about  it 
to  anybody,  remember.' 

"  I  nodded  assent,  then  resumed,  '  Uncle's  a  good,  kind  man,  isn't 
he?' 

"'Yes,  my  love;  a  good  man  I  know  him  to  be,  and  he  was  kind 
once,'  was  the  reply. 

"  '  Then  why  don't  you  go  and  tell  him  that  papa's  very  sorry  he 
was  naughty,  and  wants  to  make  friends  again ;  and  if  imcle  is  good 
and  kind,  he  will  say  yes ;  and  when  they  are  friends  again,  uncle 
will  be  sure  to  give  him  some  of  his  pocket-money  without  being 
asked,  because  they  are  brothers.    Won't  that  do,  mamma  ?  ' 

"  My  mother  rose  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  stroked  the  haii-  back  from 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  49 

my  forehead,  impi-inted  a  kiss  on  it,  and  murninrinpf,  '  Your  papa 
would  never  allow  me  to  do  so,  darlinor,'  qiiitted  the  room. 

"  Well.  I  sat  and  cogitated  the  matter  :  even  as  a  child  I  was  of  a 
fearless  nature,  and  confident  in  my  own  resources ;  and  at  last  a 
plan  occun-ed  to  me.  At  that  time  we  lived  in  London,  and  I 
attended  a  public  school  as  a  day-scholar.  At  this  school  I  had  a 
friend — a  boy  some  two  or  thi-ee  years  older  than  myself.  To  him. 
in  strict  confidence,  I  imparted  my  scheme,  which  he  was  pleased 
prraciously  to  approve  of,  and  in  which  he  volunteered  to  aid  me. 
Accordingly,  on  the  following  morning,  when  my  parents  imagined 
I  was  declining  '  hie,  hsec,  hoc,'  I  was,  under  the  able  guidance  of  my 
school-fellow,  making  my  way  to  the  office  of  a  coach  which  passed 
within  half  a  mile  of  Coverdale  Park.  Having  seen  me  set  ofE  in 
high  health  and  spirits,  my  friend  after  school-hours  left  the  following 
note  at  our  house  : — 

"  '  Dear  Mamma, — I  have  gone  to  see  my  uncle  Coverdale,  as  you 
could  not  do  it.  Papa  never  told  me  not  to — so  he  won't  lie  angry 
with  me.  Thompson  saw  me  off,  and  will  leave  this,  so  no  more  at 
present, 

"  '  From  your  dutiful  son, 

"'H.  C 

"I  reached  Coverdale  Park  without  adventure,  and  greatly 
astonishing  a  solemn  butler  by  demanding  to  see  my  uncle  forth- 
with, was  ushered  into  a  large  oak-panelled  apai-tment,  wherein  sat 
a  fine,  portly-looking  gentleman,  eating  his  dinner  in  solitary 
dignity.  As  soon  as  his  eyes  fell  upon  my  features  he  started, 
exclaiming, — 

"  '  Bless  my  soul,  boy  !  who  are  you  ?  ' 

"  '  Tour  nephew  Harry  Coverdale,  uncle,'  returned  I,  looking  him 
full  in  the  face.  My  gaze  seemed  rather  to  emban-ass  him,  for  his 
lips  moved  convulsively  ere  he  was  able  to  frame  a  reply.  At  length 
he  exclaimed  angrily, — 

"  '  And  pray,  sir,  what  do  you  want  here  ? ' 

"Feeling  by  no  means  inclined  to  enter  abruptly  upon  family 
affairs  in  presence  of  the  servants,  I  paused.  But  certain  inward 
cravings,  aroused  by  the  sight  of  the  good  things  before  me,  soon 
furnished  me  with  an  idea,  and  with  a  decidedly  suggestive  emphasis, 
I  answered, '  I  have  not  had  any  dinner  yet.'  My  uncle  again  looked 
at  me,  to  see  whether  my  observ^ation  was  the  result  of  impudence  or 
simplicity — deciding  apparently  in  favour  of  the  latter,  he  desired 
the  servant  to  place  me  a  chair  and  give  me  a  knife  and  fork. 
Fortified  by  a  good  dinner,  and  encouraged  by  a  kind  twinkle  in  the 
comer  of  my  uncle's  eye,  which  belied  all  his  attempts  to  look  angiy, 
I  soon  began  to  chatter  away  freely  and  enlighten  my  newly-found 
relative  as  to  my  opinion  of  things  in  general.  After  the  cloth  was 
removed,  and  I  had  volunteered  grace,  at  which  my  uncle  appeared 
first  surprised  and  then  edified,  he  began, — 

E 


50  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

" '  Now,  boy,  tell  me  tlie  tnitli— but  first,  you  shall  have  a  glass 
of  wine ;  which  will  you  take  ? ' 

" '  I  always  tell  the  truth,  uncle,  even  if  it  gets  me  a  thrashing ; 
and  I'll  take  port,  for  that's  the  only  wine  fit  for  a  gentleman,' 
answered  I,  which  reply  so  delighted  my  uncle,  that  he  poured  me 
out  a  bumper,  and  patting  me  on  the  back  exclaimed, — 

"  '  Bravo,  my  boy !  stick  to  truth  and  port  wine  through  life,  and 
you'll  be  a  credit  to  your  name  ! ' 

"  That  speech  of  mine  won  the  day.  I  explained  the  object  of  my 
visit,  and  that  it  had  originated  wholly  with  myself ;  and  succeeded 
so  well,  that  on  the  following  moraing  my  uncle  accompanied  me 
home,  was  reconciled  to  my  father,  to  whom,  till  the  day  of  his  death 
(which  occuiTed  within  the  next  year),  he  showed  every  kindness, 
and  after  that  event  took  my  dear  mother  to  reside  with  him  at  the 
Park,  provided  for  my  education,  and  eventually  made  me  his  heir." 
To  this  recital,  followed  by  a  detail  of  "many  of  those  piu'e  thoughts 
and  deep  feelings  which  lie  hidden  in  the  breast  of  every  generous- 
hearted  man,  till  heaven  blesses  him  with  a  female  friend  woi-thy  to 
receive  such  sacred  confidence,  did  Alice  listen  with  growing  interest 
and  sympathy ;  and  when,  two  hours  afterwards,  Mr.  Hazlehurst 
returned  home  in  a  great  state  of  universal  vinous  philanthropy, 
Harry  and  his  companion  could  scarcely  believe  they  had  been 
walking  together  for  more  than  half  an  hour. 

The  week  passed  away  like  a  dream.  Harry  walked,  and  drove, 
and  sang,  and  read  poetry  with  the  young  ladies,' and  found  himself 
especially  happy  and  comfortable.  Moreover,  he  contiived  to  institute 
a  system  of  romantic  rambles  with  Alice,  during  which  they  talked 
about  all  those  peciiliar  subjects  Avhich  can  only  be  discussed  comfort- 
ably in  a  '  tete-a-tete ' — thoughts  and  feelings  too  delicate  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  rough  handling  of  a  crowd.  And  Alice,  after  three 
days'  experience,  told  Kate  Marsden,  in  strict  confidence,  that  she 
had  formed  the  highest  opinion  of  Mr.  Coverdale's  principles ;  that  he 
was  so  good  and  sensible,  and  in  every  way  su^Derior  to  the  young 
men  one  generally  meets,  that  it  was  quite  a  pri^alege  to  possess  his 
friendship— didn't  Kate  think  so  ?  To  which  Kate  replied  in  the 
afl&i'mative,  adding  that  girls  were  usually  so  frivolous  and  empty- 
headed  that  they  were  not  worth  cultivating.  "  Where  was  the  good 
of  making  friends  of  people,  unless  one  coidd  look  up  to  them  ?  " 
Alice  responded,  "  "Where,  indeed  !  "  and  considered  that  Kate  took  a 
very  proper  and  sensible  view  of  the  matter. 

One  small  incident  occurred,  however,  which  somewhat  rufiled  the 
smooth  surface  of  Alice's  tranquillity.  Two  or  three  days  after  the 
picnic,  there  arrived  from  Mr.  Crane  a  note,  together  Avith  a  slim 
and  genteel  quadnaped,  possessing  a  greyhound-like  outline,  shadowy 
legs,  and  a  long  tail,  and  purporting  to  be  a  thoroughly-broken  lady's 
horse,  with  which  the  cotton-spinner  begged— "Miss  Alice  would 
allow  him  to  replace  the  pony  injui-ed  by  the  furious  riding  of  her 
brother   and    Mr.    Coverdale,"— an   association  in   iniquity  which 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  51 

■delighted  Tom  as  mucli  as  it  provoked  HaiTy,  and,  secretly,  Alice 
also.  This  horae  Mr.  Hazlehiirst  insisted  upon  it  Alice  should  not 
refuse ;  and  he  became  so  angry  when  a  faint  remonstrance  was 
attempted,  that  the  poor  girl  quitted  his  study  in  tears — a  melancholy 
fact,  which  Emily,  in  a  truly  feminine  and  injudicious  hurst  of 
virtuous  indignation,  revealed  to  Coverdale.  thereby  laying  in  him 
the  foundation  of  a  deeply-rooted  aversion  to  the  animal,  which  led 
to  results  that  would  have  been  better  avoided. 

The  morning  following  the  arrival  of  this  undesirable  addition  to 
the  family,  Mr.  Hazlehurst  announced  his  intention  of  riding  over  to 
call  upon  and  inquire  after  Mr.  Crane,  and  his  wish  (which  meant 
command)  that  Alice  should  accompany  him  on  her  new  horse. 
"  Mr.  Coverdale,  will  you  ride  with  us  ?  "  continued  the  head  of  the 
family  graciously  ;  "  I  do  not  think  you  have  seen  Cra.ne  Court  yet. 
The  scenery  in  and  around  the  park  is  very  rich,  and  the  view  from 
the  teiTace  most  extensive." 

Harry,  in  his  secret  soul  disliking  Mr.  Crane  and  all  that  apper- 
tained to  him,  and  fancying,  moreover,  that  the  presence  of  Mr. 
Hazlehurst  would  effectually  neutralize  the  pleasure  of  Alice's 
society,  as  their  conversation  would  be  thereby  restricted  to  unmean- 
ing commonplaces,  was  about  to  invent  some  polite  reason  for  de- 
clining, when,  happening  to  glance  at  the  young  lady  in  question,  he 
read,  or  imagined  he  read,  something  in  the  expression  of  her  counte- 
nance which  induced  him  to  alter  his  determination.  Accordingly, 
Tom  was  made  happy  by  obtaining  permission  to  go  to  the  village 
inn,  where  Coverdale's  horses  were  put  up,  order  the  groom  to  saddle 
Sir  Lancelot,  and  ride  that  exemplary  qiiadruped  back,  as  a  reward 
for  his  trovible. 

"  How  do  you  like  Mr.  Crane's  present  to  my  daughter?  In  my 
opinion  it  is  one  of  the  most  perfect  lady's  horses  I  have  ever  seen," 
complacently  remarked  Mr.  Hazlehiu'st  to  Coverdale,  as  they  stood 
at  the  hall  door,  criticizing  the  horses  which  a  groom  was  leading  up 
and  down. 

"  I  dare  say  the  old  gentleman  " — (Mr.  Hazlehurst's  brow  darkened) 
— "  paid  a  high  figure  for  the  animal,"  was  the  reply ;  "  it  has  its 
good  points,  and  is  very  well  fitted  for  a  park  hack ;  but  it's  a  weedy, 
straggling  sort  of  beast — showy  action,  but  badly  put  together; — 
and  there's  something  queer  about  its  eyes — it  has  an  uncomfortable 
way  of  leering  round  at  you,  and  showing  the  whites,  that  I  don't 
like.  You  can  see  it's  been  fed  under  the  mark,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if,  now  it's  on  full  allowance,  it  were  to  turn  out  skittish." 

"  I  can't  say  I  at  all  agree  with  you,  Mr.  Coverdale,"  was  the  hasty 
reply.  "  I  flatter  myself  I  know  something  of  horses,  and  I  consider 
this  as  perfect  a  lady's  hack  as  I  ever  beheld,  and  a  most  valuable 
animal  into  the  bargain.  As  to  temper,  it's  as  quiet  as  a  lamb — a 
child  might  ride  it.  I  must  beg  you  will  not  say  anything  which 
might  tend  to  alarm  my  daughter  or  prejudice  her  against  it." 

Harry  tm-ned  away  to  hide  a  smile,  as  he  replied,  "  Never  fear,  sir ; 


52  HARRY  COVERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

Miss  Hazleliurst  shall  form  her  own  opinion  of  its  merits,  without 
my  attempting  to  bias  her  judgment." 

When  Mr.  Hazlehurst  assisted  his  daughter  to  mount.  Harry,  who 
really  doubted  the  temper  of  the  animal,  watched  it  closely,  and  his 
previous  opinion  Avas  confirmed  by  observing  that  it  laid  back  its 
ears,  glanced  viciously  round,  and  at  the  moment  when  Alice  sprang 
up,  made  a  faint  demonstration  with  its  mouth,  as  though  it  coveted 
a  sample  of  Mr.  Hazleliurst  from  the  region  of  that  gentleman's 
coat-tails,  and  was  only  restrained  from  attempting  to  obtain  one  by 
a  recollection  of  former  punishment.  The  preliminai-y  an-angements 
being  safely  accomplished,  the  trio  started,  followed  by  a  mounted 
groom,  Coverdale  keeping  close  to  Alice's  bridle-rein. 

They  had  proceeded  some  distance  without  anything  occiUTing  to 
justify  his  suspicions;  and,  in  spite  of  all  drawbacks,  Alice  was  really 
beginning  to  enjoy  her  ride,  when  her  father  proposed  a  canter ;  and 
on  quickening  her  pace,  the  odd  manner  in  which  her  horse  tossed 
and  shook  his  head  in  some  degree  alarmed  her. 

"  Loosen  the  cux-b-rein  a  little."  suggested  Harry,  "  and  try  to  hold 
him  entirely  by  the  snaffle.  I  wll  keep  close  to  you,  so  do  not  be 
afraid,  lest  he  should  bolt."  Alice  complied,  and  the  horse  appearing 
to  approve  of  the  alteration,  ceased  to  shake  its  head ;  but  as  it 
became  warm  to  its  work,  it  pulled  so  hard  against  the  snaffle,  that 
Alice's  delicate  hands  were  imable  to  prevent  the  canter  from 
increasing  into  something  very  like  a  gallop.  Sir  Lancelot  kept  pace 
with  him,  stride  for  stride;  but  Mr.  Hazlehurst's  short-legged  cob 
— the  "  dray-horse-in-miniature — wan-anted-equal-to-sixteen-stone  '* 
style  of  animal,  which  elderly  gentlemen  ride  for  the  benefit  of  their 
digestions,  not  being  calculated  for  such  fast  work,  was  very  soon 
distanced. 

"  What  has  become  of  papa  ?  "  exclaimed  Alice,  glancing  I'ound ; 
"  we  ought  to  wait  for  him,  but  I  can't  make  this  creature  go  slower 
— it  pulls  dreadfully.    May  I  use  the  ciu'b  ?  " 

"  I  had  rather  you  did  not,"  was  the  reply ;  "  the  biiite  seemed  so 
uneasy  when  you  tried  it  before — perhaps  its  mouth  is  tender ;  I  will 
examine  it  when  you  dismount.  Canter  on  to  the  next  hill,  and  then 
we  will  stop  for  Mr.  Hazlehurst."'  And  they  did  so  accordingly, 
though  Alice  was  unable  to  pull  in  her  horse  until  Harry  leaned  over 
and  gave  her  the  assistance  of  his  strong  arm. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT 


CHAPTER  X. 

EQUO   NE   CREDITE   TEUCRI. — Virgil. 

"  Why  didn't  you  hold  in  yoin-  horse,  Alice,  and  ride  at  a  proper 
lady-like  pace,  instead  of  tearing  along  in  that  extraordinary 
manner  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Hazlehurst,  coming  up  very  red  in  the  face, 
hot,  and  discomposed,  both  himself  and  the  coh  being  entirely  out  of 
that  useful  article,  breath. 

"  I  could  not  contrive  to  make  him  go  slower,  i^apa,"  replied  poor 
Alice  timidly;  "  even  now  you  see  he  is  very  fidgetty  and  keeps  con- 
tinually pulling."  This  was  perfectly  true ;  for  the  horse,  excited  by 
its  gallop,  began  to  demonstrate  its  real  character,  and  i-efusing  to 
walk,  sidled  along,  tossing  its  head  impatiently,  pricking  up  its  ears 
at  every  soimd,  and  looking  as  if  it  were  prepared  to  shy  upon  the 
very  slightest  provocation. 

*'  Pulling ! — yes,  of  course  it  does,"  rejoined  Mr.  Hazlehurst 
angrily  ;  "  you  can't  expect  to  hold  a  fine,  liigh-coui'aged  animal  like 
that  wdth  the  snaffle  only— tighten  the  cm-b-rein  directly.  Take  care 
what  you  are  doing ! — steady  !  horse,  steady  ! — touch  him  with  the 
whip  on  the  shoulder.    Bless  me !  she'll  be  thi'own  !  " 

While  Mr.  Hazlehurst  was  speaking  they  had,  in  turning  a  corner, 
come  suddenly  upon  a  wheelbarrow,  in  which  were  deposited  two 
jackets  and  a  hat,  belonging  to  some  men  who  were  mending  tbe 
road.  The  moment  Alice's  horse  caught  sight  of  this  object  it 
stopped  short,  and  as,  in  obedience  to  her  father's  directions,  the 
frightened  girl  jerked  the  curb-rein,  and  struck  the  animal  with  her 
whip,  it  reared,  and  at  the  same  time  plunged  round  so  suddenly  as 
to  unseat  its  rider.  Fortimately,  Coverdale  had  kept  as  near  to  her  as 
possible,  and  by  a  quick  motion  of  the  bridle-hand  and  touch  with 
the  spur,  he  caused  his  horse  to  turn  at  the  same  moment  as  did  that 
on  which  Alice  was  mounted  ;  he  was  thus  enabled  to  pass  his  arm 
round  her  waist  and  prevent  her  from  falling. 

"  Is  your  foot  clear  of  the  stiiTiip  ? "'  he  inquired  hastily.  Percedv- 
ing  that  it  Avas  so,  he  continued,  "  Let  go  the  rein,  then,  and  trust 
yourself  entirely  to  me."'  As  he  spoke,  the  groom  came  up,  and 
catching  the  bridle  of  the  plunging  horse,  led  it  away ;  while  Mr. 
Hazlehurst,  descending  from  his  saddle  with  a  gi-eater  degree  of 
celerity  than  might  have  been  expected  from  a  man  of  his  age  and 
stoutness,  received  his  daughter  in  his  arms,  and  lifted  her  to  the 
grormd ;— for  which  feat  of  agility,  Harry,  who  was  by  no  means  im- 
patient to  be  relieved  of  his  lovely  bui-then,  mentally  anathematized 
him.     Then  ensued  a  great  confusion  of  tongues ;  Mr.  Hazlehurst 


54  HARRY    COVERDALE'S   COURTSHIP 

being  himself  chiefly  to  blame,  evinced  his  penitence  by  accusing^ 
everybody  else,  especially  the  groom— an  old  favourite  retainer,  who 
held  and  expressed  a  strong  imgi-ammatical  and  illogical  opinion, 
diametrically  opposed  to  his  master's,  on  all  subjects,  divine,  moral, 
and  physical.  At  length,  in  utter  despair  of  attaining  any  practical 
result,  Harry,  nnittering  to  himself  his  surprise  that  people  would 
not  adopt  his  system,  and  strike  out  for  themselves  a  quiet  way  of 
doing  things,  coolly  took  the  matter  into  his  own  hands,  by  shifting 
Alice's  saddle  to  the  back  of  the  cob  ;  when  he  had  completed  this 
arrangement  and  assisted  the  young  lady  to  mount,  he  politely  held 
Sir  Lancelot's  stirrup  for  the  accommodation  of  Mr.  Hazlehurst, 
observing, — 

"He  will  carry  you  just  as  quietly  and  easily  as  your  own  horse, 
sir ;  he  is  a  hand  or  two  higher,  certainly  ;  but  if  you  should  take  a 
sudden  fancy  to  leap  the  next  stiff  fence  you  come  to,  he'll  can-y  you 
over  it  like  a  bird  ;  so  you  must  set  the  good  against  the  evil." 

"  You're  very  kind,  sir.  Ugh !  what  a  height  the  brute  is !  " — 
(these  words  accompanied  the  effoi't  of  literally  climbing  to  the 
saddle) — "  But — but — I've  dropped  my  pocket-handkerchief — thank 
you.    What  are  you  going  to  ride  yourself  ?  " 

"  I  am  going,  if  you  have  no  objection,  to  find  out  why  Mr.  Crane's 
purchase  dislikes  to  pass  that  wheelbaiTow,  and  to  convince  him  that 
there  exists  a  strong  necessity  for  his  so  doing,"  returned  HaiTy,  with 
his  head  under  the  flap  of  a  saddle — he  beuig  engaged  in  securing 
with  his  own  hands  the  girt  around  Alice's  discarded  steed,  despite 
sundry  futile  attempts  at  kicking  and  biting  instituted  by  that  un- 
amiable  quadruped. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Coverdale — please — pray  do  not  attempt  it !  "  exclaimed 
Alice  eagerly  ;  "  I'm  sure  the  creatui-e  is  vicious  !  you  will  be  thrown 
and  huiii,  to  a  certainty !  "  Haiiy,  thus  apostrophized,  emerged  from 
beneath  the  saddle-flap,  and  tossing  back  his  dishevelled  hair,  and 
replacing  his  hat,  which  for  the  greater  convenience  of  strenuous 
buckling  he  had  taken  off,  crossed  over  to  Alice's  side. 

"  You  are  holding  the  reins  twisted,  Miss  Hazlehurst,"  he  said ; 
"  let  me  aiTange  them  for  you."  As  he  restored  the  reins  properly 
placed  to  her  grasp,  somehow  their  fingers  became  interlaced,  and 
Han-y  appeared  unable  to  disentangle  his  for  some  seconds  ;  during 
which  space  of  time,  Alice,  blushing  and  turning  away  her  head, 
mm'mured  imploringly, — 

"  You  wiU  not  ride  that  creatm-e !  " 

"  Your  father  will  never  be  convinced  that  the  brute  is  unsafe  for 
you  \inless  he  sees  it  in  its  true  colours  ;  besides,  I  dare  say  I  shall 
have  no  trouble  in  getting  it  past  the  barrow — there  is  a  quiet  way  of 
doing  these  things,"  was  the  confident  reply.  Alice  still  sought  to 
remonstrate,  but  in  vain  ;  for  pressing  her  delicate  fingers  as  though 
he  were  loath  to  relinquish  them,  Coverdale  turned  away  with  a  gay 
smile,  and  placing  his  toe  in  the  stirrup,  vaulted  lightly  to  his 
saddle. 


X 


I 

I 


\ 


VI' 


56  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

again;  then  be  set  to  kicking,  for  wliich  he  was  rewarded  by  finding 
his  mouth  violently  sawed  by  the  snaffle-bit,  while  a  perfect  tornado 
of  blows  from  the  ash  stick  was  hailed  upon  his  flanks  and  shoulders. 
Finding  this  the  reverse  of  agreeable,  he,  as  a  last  resoiu'ce,  reared 
■till  he  stood  perfectly  erect,  pawing  the  air  wildly  with  his  forefeet. 
'Bxit  he  had  overshot  the  mark. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  previous  stmggle,  the  ash  stick  had  broken 
off  short  in  Coverdale's  hand  ;  consequently,  he  was  prevented  from 
a{)plying  the  counter-irritation  principle  as  before,  and  was  only  able, 
by  great  quickness,  to  extricate  his  feet  from  the  stirnips,  ere  the  horse 
overbalanced  itself,  and  fell  heavily  backwards.  Fortunately  for  his 
own  safety,  HaiTy  was  unusually  prompt  and  active  in  all  situations 
of  danger;  and,  in  the  present  emergency,  these  qualities  stood  him 
in  good  stead.  Althoiigh,  of  course,  unable  entirely  to  free  himself 
from  the  falling  animal,  he  contrived  to  slip  aside,  so  that  it  should 
not  fall  upon  him  ;  and  almost  as  soon  as  the  frightened  creature  had 
regained  its  legs,  he  also  had  sprung  up,  apparently  unhurt,  and 
leaped  upon  its  back.  But  the  fight  was  won.  Completely  cowed  by 
its  fall,  and  wearied  out  by  the  pertinacity  of  its  rider,  the  conquered 
animal  permitted  Coverdale  to  ride  it  backwards  and  forwards  past 
the  dreaded  wheelbarrow,  approaching  nearer  at  each  turn,  until  at 
length  he  made  it  pause,  with  its  nose  within  half  a  yard  of  the 
alarming  jackets,  and  discover  for  itself  that  they  were  made  of 
fustian,  of  the  most  innocent  quality,  and  flavoured  with  the  usual 
cottage  smell  of  bacon  and  wood  smoke. 

Elated  with  his  success,  he  rejoined  Alice  and  her  father,  saying, 
as  he  did  so,  "  Well,  Miss  Hazlehurst,  I  told  you  there  was  a  quiet 
way  of  taming  the  dragon,  and  you  see  I  was  right." 

Alice,  who  was  very  pale  and  trembling,  murmured  something 
about  her  "  rejoicing  that  he  was  not  hurt."  But  Mr.  Hazlehurst, 
who  appeared  unusually  cross  and  grumpy,  replied,  "  If  that's  what 
you  call  a  quiet  way  of  enforcing  obedience,  Mr.  Coverdale,  all  I 
can  say  is,  I  pity  any  poor  creature  that  happens  to  be  under  your 
•control ! " 


CHAPTER  XI. 

POST  EQUITEM   SEDET   ATRA  CURA. — Horace. 

Mr.  Hazlehurst,  in  his  position  of  father  of  a  family,  had  been  so 
long  accustomed  to  consider  his  will  law,  that  the  possibility  of  his 
being  in  the  wrong  was  one  which  he  never  contemplated ;  the  fact, 
therefore,  of  any  one  having  proved  him  to  be  so  constituted  in  his 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        57 

«eyes  a  Higli  and  unpardonable  misdemeanour.  Of  this  capital  crime 
had  Harry  Coverdale,  on  the  occasion  just  described,  been  guilty ; 
and  Mr.  Hazlehnrst,  albeit  outwardly  he  resumed  his  usual  manner 
towards  his  guest,  could  not  in  his  secret  soul  either  forget  or 
forgive  his  offence — more  especially  as  the  circumstance  of  Mi*. 
■Crane's  present  being  demonstrated  to  be  unsafe  for  a  lady  to  ride 
(and  that  it  was  so,  even  Mr.  Hazlehurst's  powers  of  self-deception 
<;ould  not  conceal  from  him)  was  at  that  particular  juncture  of 
affairs  singularly  embarrassing.  Of  this  change  of  sentiment, 
straightforward,  unsuspicious  Harry  never  dreamed ;  accordingly, 
he  continued  to  behave  towards  the  old  gentleman  as  freely  as  he 
had  hitherto  done,  maintaining  his  own  opinions,  even  when  they 
^ntii-ely  differed  from  those  of  his  host,  courteously,  indeed,  but  with 
the  sturdy  independence  natural  to  his  character — a  sturdiness 
which,  until  it  was  exerted  in  opposition  to  his  sovereign  will  and 
pleasure,  Mr.  Hazlehurst  had  particularly  admired.  So  for  the  rest 
of  the  week  affairs  (with  this  single  exception)  went  on  most  agree- 
ably and  satisfactorily  to  all  parties. 

Harry,  having  once  broken  the  ice,  contrived  speedily  to  win  the 
good  opinions  (to  use  no  stronger  term)  of  all  the  female  portion  of 
the  community.  From  the  kind  attention  he  paid  Mrs.  Hazlehurst. 
he  soon  acquired  so  much  influence  over  that  amiable  lady  that,  to 
ijlease  him,  she  consented  to  varioiis  schemes  devised  for  her  benefit 
■and  amusement,  which  her  daughters  had  previously  urged  upon  her 
in  vain ;— for  instance,  when  Harry,  instructed  by  Alice  in  regard  to 
times  and  seasons  and  the  like  minor  particulars,  came  at  the  very 
moment  when  she  was  going  to  decide  that  she  did  not  feel  equal 
to  going  out  at  all  that  day,  to  tell  her  that  the  pony-phaeton  was 
waiting  at  the  door,  and  that  he  should  really  think  her  unkind  and 
imagine  he  must  have  done  something  to  offend  her,  if  she  refused 
to  allow  him  the  pleasure  of  can-ying  her  to  the  chaise,  and  driving 
her  just  far  enough  to  do  her  good,  and  not  to  tire  her, — what  could 
she  do  but  consent  ?  "  Ce  n'est  que  le  premier  pas  qui  coute."  This 
point  gained,  it  was  easy  to  persuade  the  invalid  to  take  a  short 
excursion  daily ;  and  as  her  complaint  was  in  some  degree  on  the 
nerves,  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  fresh  air  and  exercise  soon  became 
apparent.  Moreover,  as  Alice  knew  how  to  drive  a  little,  and  wished 
to  improve  in  that  useful  accoTuplishment,  Harry  could  do  no  less, 
when  he  had  brought  Mrs.  Hazlehurst  safely  home  from  her  daily 
drive,  than  take  out  the  yoimg  lady,  and  give  her  a  lesson,  and  as 
these  lessons  usually  lasted  some  two  hours  at  a  stretch,  the  fat 
ponies  began  to  get  into  excellent  working  condition,  and  considering 
themselves  put  upon,  wondered  why  the  Society  for  the  Prevention 
-of  Ciiielty  to  Animals  neglected  to  interfere  in  their  behalf.  Emily,, 
too,  had  quite  altered  her  opinion  of  their  guest,  and  entirely 
sympathized  with  Tom's  declaration  that  he  was  "  a  stunning  good 
fellow,  and  no  mistake !  "  Kate  Marsden  said  little,  but  obsei-ved 
the  progi-ess  of  events  with  calm  approval ;  for  she  perceived  that 


58  HARRY  COVER  DALE'S  COURTSHIP 

to  be  going  on  which  would  gi-eatly  facilitate  the  execution  of  certain 
schemes  which  she  had  deWsed. 

At  length  arrived  the  impoi'taut  day  of  the  dinner-party.  Wei'e 
we  called  upon  to  define  the  meaning  of  the  term  dinner-party,  we 
shonld  denominate  it  an  awful  immolation  of  mind  to  matter,  a 
wanton  sacrifice  of  the  head  to  the  stomach.  Why.  on  a  hot 
summer's  day,  eighteen  individuals,  supposed  to  be  in  their  proper 
senses,  who  might  dine  at  home  if  they  chose,  should  agree  of  their 
own  free-will  to  victimize  themselves  and  each  other  by  congregating 
together  in  one  room,  for  the  space  of  two  mortal  hours,  to  eat — 
and,  in  the  case  of  the  lords  of  the  creation,  probably  to  drink  also — 
a  gi-eat  deal  more  than  is  good  for  them,  is  one  of  those  social 
problems  of  which  we  expect  to  arrive  at  the  solution  about  the  time 
when  mankind  is  thoroughly  regenerated  by  Miss  Martineau's 
atheological  views  (to  coin  a  word),  but  not  before. 

If  there  were  no  other  argument  against  this  insane  system  of 
monster  dinner-parties,  the  frightful  state  of  discomfort  into  which 
the  family  of  the  giver  of  the  feast  is  thrown  by  the  coming  event 
would  alone  be  sufficient  to  prove  our  case.  Uidess  the  establish- 
ment be  on  a  scale  proportionable  to  that  of  the  individual  wlio,  on 
finding  the  number  of  his  guests  exceeded  the  means  of  conveyance 
provided  for  them,  coolly  ordered  round  "  more  phaetons !  "  anarchy 
and  confusion  reign  predominant  throughout  the  devoted  mansion 
for  at  least  foxu--and-twenty  hours  before  the  affair  comes  off.  In 
the  first  place,  the  sen'ants,  male  and  female,  all  go  mad ;  if  you 
give  an  order,  the  reciijient  stares  you  vacantly  in  the  face,  and 
does  something  else  immediately ;  if  you  lay  down  a  book,  or  any 
similar  ai-ticle,  in  its  proper  i^lace,  somebody  instantly  removes  it 
and  hides  it  in  an  imjiroper  one,  where  you  are  fortimate  if  you 
stumble  upon  it  by  accident  in  the  course  of  the  following  six 
months.  The  lunacy  of  the  servants  reacts  upon  their  betters — 
everybody  is  a  little  out  of  temper,  everybody  is  over-officious,  and 
has  a  way  of  his  or  her  own  for  doing  everything  diametrically 
opposed  to  the  various  diverging  ways  of  everybody  else.  From  the 
earliest  dawn  the  very  garrets  are  redolent  of  "  making  soup,"  which 
odour  remains  in  possession  of  the  house  till  about  the  time  at  which 
hmcheon  should  be,  but  of  course  is  not,  forthcoming,  when  it  is 
superseded,  and  retires  vice  the  venison  put  down  to  roast,  which  we 
would  rather  decree  should  be  "  put  down  "  as  a  nuisance — at  least, 
as  far  as  regards  our  olfactory  nerves.  But  it  were  an  endless  task 
to  attempt  to  sum  up  all  the  miseries  incidental  to  the  preparations 
for  celebrating  one  of  those  "  feasts  of  un-reason,"  nor  do  we  expect 
very  many  of  the  gentle  public  to  sympathize  in  our  views ;  for  in 
every  society  which  we  have  as  yet  frequented,  "  L' Amphitryon  ou 
Ton  dine,"  though  he  be  heavy  as  his  own  dinners,  is  certain  to  be  a 
popular'  man. 

However  this  may  be,  one  thing  is  certain,  that  Harry  Coverdale. 
on  the  morning  preceding  the  dinner-party  at  the  Grange,  experienc- 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        59 

ing  in  his  proper  person  many  of  the  inconveniences  alluded  to, 
and  having  made  several  attempts  to  improve  his  position  by- 
seeking  to  induce  somebody  to  do  something  sensible  or  agreeable, 
all  of  -which  proved  abortive,  by  reason  of  the  impossibility  of 
extracting  even  Alice  from  the  vortex  of  preparation — Haii'y  Cover- 
dale,  thus  victimized,  "  faute  de  mieux."  mounted  his  good  steed  and 
set  off  to  ride  away  from  the  blue  devils ;  but  the  remedy  did  not 
succeed— the  devils  folio-wed  him,  and  grew  bluer  and  bluer  with 
every  mile  he  passed  over,  and, at  last,  the  bluest  of  them  all  assumed 
the  likeness  of  Mr.  Crane ! 

"  Confound  Mr.  Crane !  " — thus  ran  Harry's  thoughts — "  confound 
the  old  fellow  !  he's  coming  to  marry  Alice — my  nice,  warm-hearted 
little  friend,  Alice  !  I  don't  by  any  means  approve  of  it !  He's  old 
enough  to  be  her  father,  or  anybody  else's,  for  that  matter :  the 
thing  is  ridiculous — quite  absurd ! — Besides,  the  dear  little  girl 
dislikes  him — naturally  she  does  :  there's  nothing  to  like  in  him. 
Why,  she  cares  aaore  aljout  me  than  she  does  abovit  him ! "  He 
paused  in  thought,  removed  his  hat,  pushed  back  his  thick,  clustering 
hair,  put  his  hat  on  again,  and  continued :  "  I  declare  if  I'd  not 
entirely  made  up  my  mind  against  maiTying,  I'd  enter  for  the  stakes 
myself,  and  see  if  one  could  not  jockey  the  old  fellow  and  governor 
Hazlehurst  too.  Alice  is  a  prize  well  woi'th  winning,  but  it's  too 
late  to  change  one's  mind !  I  ought  to  have  behaved  differently  to 
her  at  first,  if  I'd  wanted  her  to  fall  in  love  with  me — though  I  think 
I've  got  over  ail  that  pretty  thoroughly,  too.  Ah  !  well,  I've  chosen 
my  line,  and  must  stick  to  it ;  and  as  the  shooting  season  isn't  so 
very  far  off  now,  thank  goodness,  I  shall  contrive  to  make  it  out 
somehow,  I  dare  say.  And,  by  Jove,  there's  a  whole  pack  of  birds 
sunning  themselves  in  that  great  field — five  ,or  six  coveys  all  got 
together — and  stunning  good  coveys  they  must  be,  too  !  There's  a 
gap  in  the  hedge ;  I'll  leap  over  and  see  if  I  can  get  near  enough  to 
count  them.  Kow,  Lancelot — steady,  sir  ! — you  must  do  it — over  we 
go !  Famously  cleared !  I  wouldn't  take  five  hundi'ed  guineas  for 
you,  you  beauty  !  that  I  wouldn't.  We'll  show  some  of  'em  the  way 
across  country  when  the  hunting  begins ;  won't  we  astonish  their 
weak  minds  for  them,  rather !  "  and  so,  patting  and  caressing  his 
horse,  HaiTy  made  a  wide  circuit,  and  availing  himself  of  the 
shelter  of  a  belt  of  trees,  contrived  to  get  near  enough  to  the  par- 
tridges to  count  them ;  by  Avhich  i^rocess  he  arrived  at  the  interesting 
discovery  that  there  were  exactly  thirty  brace,  with  one  bird  over; 
which  ornithological  irregularity  rather  distressed  and  provoked 
him,  though  why  it  should  have  done  so,  neither  he,  nor,  as  we 
imagine,  anyone  else,  could  possibly  conceive. 

But  the  partridges  being  counted,  back  came  the  blue  devils  in 
greater  force  than  ever,  and  his  thoughts  grew  so  troublesome,  not 
to  say  unbearable,  that  Han-y  began  to  imagine  he  must  be  be- 
witched— a  supposition  in  which,  perhaps,  he  was  not  so  very  far 
wrong  after  all.    As   a  last    refuge    against    his    persecutors,    he 


60  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

resolved  on  a  good  gallop ;  and  so  made  his  way  across  country,  a 
distance  of  some  eight  miles,  as  straight  as  the  crow  flies,  leaping 
gates  and  crashing  through  hedges  in  a  very  reckless  and  steeple- 
chasing  kind  of  manner,  which  obtained  for  him  a  more  than 
suflicient  amotmt  of  hard  British  swearing  from  sundry  irate 
members  of  the  Agricultural  Association,  who,  for  once  in  their 
lives,  had  a  real  gi-ievance  to  complain  of.  As  he  cleared  the  last 
fence  leading  into  the  park  in  which  the  Grange  was  situated,  the 
village  clock  struck  six,  and  he  could  'perceive  a  carriage,  with  the 
Crane  liveries  (green  turned  up  with  yellow),  winding  slowly 
through  the  trees.  Three  minutes  more  found  him  in  the  stable- 
yard,  and  flinging  the  bridle  of  his  reeking  steed  to  his  groom,  while 
he  uttered  the  hasty  caution,  "  You  see  the  state  he's  in ;  take  proper 
care  of  him,"  he  made  his  way  to  his  bedroom  by  a  back  staircase, 
ovei-tuming  a  water-can,  and  running  into  the  arms  of  a  pretty 
hoiisemaid  (to  whom  he  aisologized  by  mentioning  that  he  was  sori-y 
he  was  in  too  great  a  hun-y  to  give  her  a  kiss),  in  the  course  of  his 
rapid  career.  And  so,  very  hot,  very  dusty,  considerably  tired,  and 
with  a  most  unromantic  appetite,  he  set  vigorously  to  work  to  (as 
servants  inelegantly,  but  graphically  term  it)  clean  himself. 

When,  some  twenty  minutes  afterwards,  Coverdale  reached  the 
drawing-room,  he  found  all  the  guests  assembled.  Many  of  them,  to 
whom  he  was  personally  known,  immediately  claimed  acquaintance, 
recognizing  him  in  spite  of  the  improvements  which  his  residence 
abroad  had  wrought  in  his  manners  and  appearance.  Some  two  or 
three  of  the  younger  men  were  old  college  chums,  who  were  really 
overjoyed  to  see  him  again,  and  who  immediately  gathered  round 
him  and  besieged  him  with  questions.  Glancing  round  the  circle, 
he  perceived  D  Almayne  bending  tenderly  over  Alice  ;  but  the  sight 
no  longer  annoyed  him — he  had  got  over  that.  Alice  saw  the 
exquisite  in  his  true  colours ;  Alice  had  laughed  at  him — poor  D' Al- 
mayne !  But  on  her  other  hand  sat  the  cotton-spinner,  and  he  was 
more  formidable ;  for  he  did  not  (fortunately  for  himself)  depend  on 
his  personal  attractions  alone — there  were  twenty  thousand  solid 
good  reasons  per  annum  why  he  should  not  be  refused;  reasons 
which  rendered  his  alliance  with  Mr.  Hazlehurst's  family  so  desir- 
able, that  all  that  gentleman's  paternal  authority  was  certain  to  be 
stretched  to  its  uttermost  limit  to  enable  Mr.  Crane  to  carry  his 
point.  Moreover,  as  Harry  entered  the  drawing-room,  Tom  had 
given  him  the  following  note  : — 

"  Dear  Hal, — I  have  written  to  tell  the  governor  that  I  shall  be 
detained  in  coui-t  so  late  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  get 
away  to-night  (the  truth,  you  heretic!).  I  shall  start  [by  the  first 
train  to-morrow,  and  be  with  you  to  breakfast.  Keep  a  sharp  look- 
out upon  the  cotton-spinner ;  and  if  at  any  moment  he  appears  as  if 
he  were  prepai'ing  to  pop,  throw  a  book  at  his  head  without  hesita- 
tion !    So  will  you  continue  to  deserve  the  good  opinion  of 

"Arthur  H." 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  61 

At  dinner,  Coverdale  was  seated  next  a  fast  young  lady,  who 
rather  made  love  to  him  than  otherwise  ;  but  she  did  not  take  much 
by  her  motion,  for  Harry  had  a  good  deal  of  business  on  his  hands. 
First,  there  was  his  appetite  to  satisfy,  and  the  monster  was  very 
insatiate  after  his  gallop  across  coimtry ;  next,  he  felt  it  incumbent 
upon  him  to  keep  a  strict  watch  over  Mr.  Crane  and  Alice,  who  were 
seated  nearly  opposite  to  him ;  and  he  seriously  debated  in  his  own 
mind  whether  a  finger-glass  might  not  be  considered  a  legitimate 
substitute  for  a  book,  on  one  or  two  occasions,  when  the  cotton- 
spinner  appeared  to  be  attempting  the  excessively  tender.  Good 
eating  requires  good  drinking ;  thirst  demands  pale  ale,  etiquette 
obliges  champagne,  and  the  mixed  duties  of  society  necessitate 
port  and  sheri-y ;  hock  is  very  refreshing  in  hot  weather ;  it  is  no 
use  to  hand  round  curagoa,  if  jjeople  won't  drink  it ;  Hermitage  and 
Lunel  are  so  nice  that  everybody  takes  them ;  claret  is  a  necessity  in 
all  properly  ordered  establishments ;  and  if  your  host  produces  a 
bottle  of  good  old  burgundy,  he  must  be  a  fool  who  refuses  to  taste 
it.  But  for  a  man  to  do  all  this,  and  at  the  same  time  to  think,  feel, 
and  express  himself  as  coolly  and  prudently  as  he  would  after  a 
mutton-chop  and  a  glass  of  table-beer,  would  require  him  to  possess 
a  brain  made  of  cast-ii-on  and  no  heart  at  all ;  and  such  was  by  no 
means  the  physical  conformation  of  our  hero.  Harry,  however, 
possessed  a  good  strong  head  of  his  own ;  and  although,  as  dessert 
proceeded,  his  eyes  grew  brighter,  and  he  invohmtarily  emulated 
D'Almayne  by  smiling  frequently  and  unconsciously,  displaying  an 
even  row  of  white  teeth,  these  peculiarities  only  sei'ved  to  make  him 
look  especially  handsome.  But  the  wine  did  something  else  ;  for,  as 
the  ladies  rose  to  leave  the  room,  it  inspired  him  with  a  determina- 
tion to  jockey  DAlmayne,  who  usually  usurped  the  privilege  of 
opening  the  door  on  such  occasions— a  "  cutting  out "  expedition 
which  Harry  conducted  with  equal  skill  and  success.  As  Alice,  who 
came  last,  passed  him,  some  spirit  (whether  of  wine,  or  another 
equally  favourite  theme  for  minstrel's  lay,  we  cannot  tell)  urged  him 
to  bend  his  head  and  whisper  the  inquii-y,  "  Have  you  been  happy 
with  your  delightful  companion  ?  " 

A  contemptuous  smile,  and  a  slight  negative  motion  of  the 
lips  answered  the  question;  and,  for  a  moment,  their  eyes  met. 
Alice's  must  have  been  a  singularly  expressive  glance,  for  Harry 
read  therein  that  she  was  anxious  and  dispirited,  but  felt  a  vague  and 
general  reliance  on  his  willingness  and  ability  to  afford  her  comfort 
and  protection. 

Had  Mr.  Crane  known  the  exact  feelings  with  which  Coverdale 
gi-asped  a  finger-glass  and  mentally  calculated  the  amount  of  force 
it  would  require  to  launch  the  missile  against  the  chinchilla-crowned 
head  of  his  opposite  neighbour,  that  woi-thy  man  would  scarcely  have 
ventured  to  continue  his  mild  and  meaningless  prosing  so  con- 
tentedly. 


62  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 


CHAPTER  XII. 

HAREY   PUTS   HIS    FOOT   IN    IT. 

The  moment  Harry  reseated  himself  at  the  dining-table,  two  of  his 
old  college  friends  placed  themselves  beside  him,  and  plunging  at 
once  into  recollections  of  '"  auld  lang  syne,"  completely  monopolized 
him.  The  sound  of  his  own  name  eagerly  pronounced  roused  him  at 
length  from  an  interesting  reminiscence  of  how  gloriously  drunk 
Jones  of  Magdalen  had  been  at  Tipple  ton's  wine-party  (when  he 
woiild  sing  a  pathetic  ballad,  beginning,  "  There's  a  wail  on  the 
mountain !  "  and  was  stopped  by  a  roar  of  laughter,  chorusing  the 
inquiry,  "how  the  deuce  it— the  whale— got  there?").  The  speaker 
was  Mr.  Hazlehurst.  "  Excuse  my  interrupting  your  conversation 
for  a  few  minutes,  Mr.  Coverdale,"  !he  began,  *'  but  we  want  your 
opinion.  You've  travelled  and  seen  the  working  of  different  tariff 
regulations,  and  had  opportunities  of  comparing  the  prosperity  of 
other  nations  with  that  of  our  own,  while  at  the  same  time  you  are  a 
sufficiently  large  landed  xDroprietor  to  give  jow  a  stake  in  the  country 
and  to  induce  you  to  feel  a  strong  interest  in  the  general  prospects 
of  the  agricultural  population.  I  am  sure  you  must  agree  with  me 
in  considering  iDrotection  a  most  essential  and  salutary  measure." 

"  If  I  might  be  allowed  to  make  just  one  observation  before  Mr. 
Coverdale  favours  us  with  his  views  on  this  imi^ortant  question,"  in- 
sinuated Mr.  Crane,  in  the  mildest  and  most  affectionate  tone  of 
voice  imaginable — wine  always  reducing  this  excellent  man  to  a  state 
of  weak  and  inappropriate  iphilanthropy — "  if  I  might  observe  that, 
with  the  highest  respect  for,  and  admiration  of,  the  agricultural 
popxilation  of  this  great  country,  I  feel  it  incompatible  with  my 
feelings  as  a  Protestant,  and  therefore,  so  to  speak,  in  a  general  way 
as  a  brother,  not  to  say  as  a  man  also,  and  more  particularly  as  a  mill- 
owner,  to  forget  the  thousands  of  operatives  who  crowd  our  large 
cities,  and  who,  when  satisfied  with  cheap  bread,  add  to  the  dignity 
and  prosperity  of  the  nation ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  when  deprived  of 
this  means  of  support,  object  to  resign  themselves  to  the  dispensa- 
tions  of  a  beneficent  Providence,  and  fly  in  the  face  of  society  as 
chai-tists,  levellers,  red  republicans,  and  all  that  is  dangerous  and 
subversive  of  morality  and  security  of  property.  If  I  may  so  far 
presume  as  to  call  Mr.  Coverdale's  attention  to  the  desirableness  of 
providing  food  at  a  rate  which  will  enable  the  manufacturing  classes 
to  exist  without  constantly  working  themselves  up  into  a  state  of 
illegal  desperation,  I  shall  feel  that  I  have,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the 
expression,  unburthened  my  conscience."    Thus  saying,  Mr.  Crane 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  6:3 

cast  a  timid  and  appealing  look  from  Harry  to  his  host,  and  sipped 
a  glass  of  bm-gnndy  with  the  air  of  a  man  apologizing  for  some 
misdeed. 

"  It  is  not  a  subject  upon  which  I  have  ever  exi^ended  any  vast 
amount  of  consideration,"  began  Coverdale.  wishing  in  his  secret 
soul  that  he  might  have  the  feeding  of  Mr.  Crane  for  the  ensuing 
six  months  entrusted  to  him,  in  which  case  he  would  have  afforded 
that  gentleman  an  opportunity  of  practically  testing  the  merits  of 
very  cheap  bread  indeed,  and  of  nothing  else — except,  perhaps,  cold 
spring  water ;  "  but  the  common  sense  of  the  matter  appears  to  lie 
in  a  niitshell :  the  two  great  divisions  (  f  the  poorer  classes  are  the 
manufactiu'ing  poor  and  the  agricultural  poor,  the  manufacturers 
being  the  most  numerous— to  sacrifice  one  to  the  other  is  unfair, 
but  to  offer  up  the  greater  to  the  less  is  ridiculous.  Free  trade  has 
had  a  fair  trial,  and  has  been  proved  to  benefit  the  masses,  though  it 
lies  heavily  on  the  land-owners.  Well,  then,  relieve  land  of  its 
biu-thens,  and  make  the  income-tax  permanent  to  reimburse  the 
Exchequer.  That's  the  line  I  should  take  if  I  were  Premier,  which, 
thank  heaven,  I'm  not." 

As  HaiTy  concluded,  two  or  three  men  began  to  speak  at  once, 
but  Mr.  Hazlehurst,  by  a  solemn  wave  of  the  hand,  immediately 
silenced  them.  That  excellent  magistrate  had  drunk  more  wine  than 
was  by  any  means  good  for  him ;  his  constitution  was  gouty,  and  he 
had  not  had  a  fit  for  some  time ;  before  such  attacks  he  was  usually 
as  iiTitable  as  though  his  bi-ain  were  a  hedgehog  and  society  at  large 
a  pack  of  wire-haired  terriers  attempting  to  unroll  it.  Claret  was 
the  most  imwholesome  wine  he  could  take,  and  on  the  evening  in 
question  he  had  imbibed  nearly  a  bottle  thereof ;  but  of  all  this 
"  dessous  des  cartes."  Harry  was  innocently  unconscious. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  gentlemen."  began  Mr.  Hazlehurst  solemnly, 
"  but  the  right  of  reply  at  present  rests  with  myself.  Moreover,  if 
my  ears  did  not  deceive  me,  Mr.  Coverdale  has  made  an  observation 
which  I  must  call  upon  him  either  to  explain  or  retract ;  but  in  the 
first  place,  let  me  express  my  surpi-ise  and  regi-et,  sir,"  here  he 
addressed  himself  pointedly  to  Harry,  "  that  a  young  man  in  your 
position,  a  large  landed  proprietor,  a  lover  of  field  sports,  possessing 
a  practical  knowledge  of  land,  and  a  personal  acquaintance  with  the 
habits  and  customs  of  the  agricultural  poor — the  bone  and  sinews  of 
om-  coxmtry,  should  thus  turn  against  and  betray  the  interests  of 
the  class  to  which  he  belongs,  and  league  himself  with  those  who 
would,  in  their  short-sightedness,  sap  the  \atals  of  that  free  and 
independent  character  which  has  made  us  the  great  nation  that  we 
are.  With  regard  to  the  observation  to  which  I  alluded,  I  believe, 
that  having  stigmatized  the  opinions  I  hold  as  a  sacrifice  of  the 
greater  to  the  less,  you  deliberately  pronounced  those  opinions 
ridiculous.    Have  I  not  repeated  your  words  correctly  ?  " 

"  I  certainly  said  that  to  sacrifice  the  greater  number  to  the 
less    wo\ild    be    ridiculous,"    returned     Han-y,    completely   taken 


64  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

aback  at  this  sudden  and  unexpected  accusation ;  "  but  I  only 
meant — " 

■'  You  meant  what  you  said,  I  presume  ?  "  interposed  Mr.  Hazle- 
liurst,  in  the  magisterial  tone  of  voice  in  which,  he  was  accustomed 
to  cross-examine  and  be  down  upon  equivocating  poachers. 

"  Of  coiu'se  I  did,"  returned  Harry,  his  eyes  flashing  as  he  obsei-ved 
a  sarcastic  smile  upon  the  face  of  Hoi'ace  D'Almayne.  "  I  always 
mean  what  I  say ;  but  my  remai-k  related  solely  to  general  principles, 
and  had  not  the  smallest  reference  to  you  personally,  sir." 

"  Which  is  equivalent  to  saying  that  I  do  not  understand  the 
common  meaning  of  words,"  returned  Mr.  Hazlehurst,  in  the  same 
in-itating  tone  of  voice.  "  Really,  Mr.  Coverdale,  your  explanations 
do  not  tend  to  do  away  with  the  rmfavourable  impression  your 
observation  forced  upon  me." 

"  It  is  equivalent  to  nothing  of  the  kind,  sir,"  rejoined  Harry, 
losing  his  self-command  as  a  second  glance  at  D'Almayne  I'evealed 
the  fact  that  he  was  hiding  a  laugh  behind  an  elaborately-worked 
cambric  handkerchief ;  "  but  if  you  choose  to  put  a  wrong  construc- 
tion upon  every  word  I  utter,  it  is  useless  for  me  to  discuss  the 
matter  further  with  a  man  so — a — so " 

At  this  critical  moment  Tom  Hazlehurst,  who  had  been  listening 
with  a  countenance  of  blank  dismay  to  the  altercation  between  his 
father  and  his  friend,  contrived,  either  by  accident  or  design,  to 
throw  down  and  break  a  valuable  china  plate.  This  incident  created 
a  diversion  by  calling  forth  an  outburst  of  parental  wrath,  under 
cover  whereof  Harry  regained  suiiicient  self-control  to  enable  him 
to  suppress  the  word  "  wrong-headed,"  with  which  he  had  been  on 
the  point  of  concluding  his  sentence.  At  the  same  time,  Mr.  Crane, 
having  a  mortal  antipathy  to  anything  like  qiiaiTclling,  which,  as  he 
said,  produced  "  an  insalubrious  agitation  of  his  nervous  system,"  or, 
in  plain  English,  frightened  him  out  of  his  wits,  suggested  that  they 
should  join  the  ladies — a  proposal  which  led  to  a  general  move. 
Five  minutes'  reflection,  in  an  atmosphere  less  oppressive  than  that 
of  the  heated  dining-room,  caused  Han-y  to  perceive  that,  by 
having  allowed  himself  to  be  provoked  by  the  obstinacy  of  a  pig- 
headed and  slightly  tipsy  old  gentleman  into  even  a  momentary 
forgetfulness  of  the  respect  due  to  Mr.  Hazlehurst's  years  and  posi- 
tion, he  had  acted  wrongly  and  foolishly.  It  moreover  occun-ed  to 
him,  now  that  it  was  too  late  to  be  of  the  slightest  use,  that  owing 
to  this  unfortunate  disagreement  he  must  have  completely  neutral- 
ized any  influence  he  might  have  possessed  with  his  host,  and  thus, 
in  fact,  frustrated  the  whole  purpose  of  his  visit,  by  which  means 
Arthur  would  be  vexed,  and  the  possibility  of  Alice's  marriage  with 
Mr.  Crane  rather  increased  than  otherwise.  Just  as  he  was  about 
to  exchange  the  cool  air  of  the  garden  (whither,  on  leaving  the 
dining-room,  he  had  betaken  himself)  for  the  less  agreeable  tempera- 
ture of  a  crowded  drawing-room,  he  was  patted  on  the  shoulder  by 
one  of  his  college  acquaintance. 


Hofy, 


ft  It 


fith 


^'!) 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  65 

"All.  Knigliton  !  what  is  it,  man?  "  observed  Harry,  wishing  his 
dear  friend  at  Jericho.  "  I  took  you  for  the  stem  of  a  tree,  you  stood 
so  motionless." 

"  Why,  the  fact  is,  my  dear  fellow,"  returned  Knighton,  a  well- 
disposed  goose,  who,  when  Harry  first  commenced  his  college  career, 
had  formed  an  enthusiastic  attachment  for  him,  in  return  for  which 
he  expected  his  friend  to  advise  him  how  to  act  and  what  to  say  upon 
eveiT  occasion,  trifling  as  well  as  important — a  tax  which  even 
Harry's  good-natui-e  found  somewhat  oppressive,  "  the  fact  is,  I 
consider  it  quite  providential,  if  I  may  say  so,  finding  you  here  to- 
night :  you  know  I  always  like  to  have  your  opinion  before  I  make 
up  my  mind ;  there  is  nobody  with  such  good  sense  as  you,  at  least, 
nobody  that  I've  ever  met  with.  My  dear  Coverdale,  I'm  going  to 
take  the  most  important  step — that  is,  if  you  see  no  reason  against 
it,  which  I  can  scarcely  feel  a  doubt  of  ;  but  I'll  tell  you  the  whole 
affair,  beginning  properly  at  the  beginning.  When  I  was  down  in 
Hampshire  three  years  ago "  but  we  will  not  inflict  Mr.  Knigh- 
ton's amiable  prolixity  on  the  reader,  suffice  it  to  say  that,  having 
linked  his  aiTU  within  that  of  Coverdale,  he  paraded  his  victim  up 
and  down  a  gravel  walk  for  the  space  of  at  least  three  quarters  of  an 
hour,  while  he  pom-ed  into  his  ears  as  dull  a  tale  of  true  love  as  ever 
ran  smooth :  true  love  of  the  very  mildest  quality,  which,  from  the 
beginning,  was  certain  to  end  simply  and  naturally  in  a  stupid 
marriage,  about  the  whole  of  which  affair  there  could  not  by 
possibility  be  two  opinions.  At  length,  when  HaiTy  had  agreed  with 
everything  and  to  everything  at  least  twice  over,  and  strongly 
advised  his  tormentor  to  act  as  he  felt  certain  he  would  have  done  if 
his  advice  had  been  just  the  other  way  (for  this  young  man,  although 
he  eagerly  sought  counsel,  by  no  means  considered  himself  bound  to 
walk  thereby),  it  suddenly  occui-red  to  Mr.  Knighton  that  he  was 
doing  an  unkind  thing  by  his  friend,  and  a  rude  one  by  his  host,  in 
not  sooner  joining  the  ladies  ;  accordingly,  at  (literally)  the  eleventh 
hour,  he  exercised  thus  much  self-denial,  viz.  having  nothing  more 
to  say,  he  said  it. 

When  Coverdale  entered  the  drawing-room,  he  cast  round  his  eyes 
to  discover  what  might  have  become  of  Alice  and  Mr.  Crane,  and 
failing  to  perceive  them,  was  about  to  find  some  excuse  for  making 
his  way  into  the  boudoir  beyond,  when  Emily  pounced  upon  him  to 
entreat  him  to  sing  for  the  edification  of  some  dear  Mai-y  Jane 
or  other,  who  was  dying  to  hear  him  ;  and  the  very  identical  Mary 
Jane  herself  seconding  the  request  in  a  mild,  insinuating,  blatant 
tone  of  voice,  as  of  some  bashful  but  persuasive  sheep,  there  remained 
nothing  for  him  but  to  consent,  which  he  did  with  a  very  ill  grace 
indeed.  Having  dashed  through  a  tender  and  sentimental  Italian 
love  ditty  in  a  ferocious,  not  to  say  sanguinary,  style,  he  declared  he 
was  so  hoarse  that  he  could  not  sing  another  note,  and  again  made 
an  attempt  to  enter  the  boudoir,  which  he  succeeded  in  reaching  just 
in  time  to  see  Alice  quit  the  room  with  a  heightened  coloiu'  and  in  a 

F 


66  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

manner  which  "betokened  liurry  and  agitation,  wliile  Mr.  Crane 
remained  gazing  after  her  with  a  coimtenance  indicative  of  the 
deepest  and  most  helpless  bewilderment.  From  these  symptoms 
Han-y  rightly  conjectured  that  while  he  had  been  off  duty  the  cotton- 
spinner  had  popped;  hut  whether  his  offer  had  been  accepted  or 
rejected  he  was  iitterly  imable  to  divine.  Mr.  Crane  looked  stupid 
and  puzzle-pated — but  that  he  was  sure  to  do  in  any  case.  For  the 
rest  of  the  evening  Coverdale  was  in  a  fearful  state  of  mind ;  people 
stayed  late,  and  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  evei-ybody  had  entered  into  a 
league  to  worry  and  torment  him.  First,  the  young  lady  who  had 
sat  next  him  at  dinner  got  at  him  again,  and  flii-ted  at  him  so 
violently,  that  (his  thoughts  running  entirely  on  man-ying  and 
giving  in  marriage)  he  became  possessed  of  a  nervous  dread  lest  she 
should  be  going  to  make  him  an  offer — this  idea  gaining  confirma- 
tion from  its  suddenly  occurring  to  him  that  it  was  leap  year,  he 
grew  desperate,  and  pretending  that  Emily  had  made  him  promise  to 
sing  again,  astonished  that  damsel  by  crossing  over  to  inform  her 
that  his  hoarseness  had  entirely  departed,  and  that  he  should  have 
the  gi'eatest  pleasure  in  favouring  her  friend  with  the  song  she  had 
wished  to  hear;  for  which  piece  of  inconsistency  Emily  bestowed 
upon  him  a  glance  so  penetrating  and  satirical,  that  he  longed  to  box 
her  pretty  pert  little  ears  for  it.  When  the  song  was  over,  Knighton 
emerged  from  behind  a  broad  old  lady,  somebody's  mother-in-law, 
very  far  gone  in  CuraQoa,  which  she  concealed  behind  a  pious  zeal 
for  clothing  the  female  natives  of  Barelyaragon  (an  unknown 
island,  discovered  by  Juan  de  Chuzacriiz  in  the  sixteenth  centui-y, 
and  forgotten  ever  since)  in  the  cast-off  garments  of  the  Bhiecoat- 
School  boys.  The  moment  Knighton  got  clear  of  this  philanthropic 
elder  he  pounced  upon  Coverdale,  and  caiTying  him  off  to  a  recess, 
then  and  there  related  to  him  an  additional  episode  in  his  amatory 
career,  which  was  not  of  the  slightest  importance  either  to  himself 
or  to  anybody  else,  but  which  took  nearly  as  long  to  communicate  as 
the  original  histoi^y.  Diuing  this  infliction,  HaiTy's  attention  was 
occupied  by  observing  the  behaviour  of  Mr.  Crane.  Almost  as  soon 
as  Alice  quitted  the  boudoir,  Kate  Marsden  had  entered  it,  and 
begun  a  long  and  apparently  interesting  conversation  with  Mr.  Crane, 
during  which  that  gentleman,  who  at  the  commencement  appeared 
rather  low  and  desponding,  gradually  brightened  up,  and,  under  the 
influence  of  his  fair  companion's  society,  grew  quite  lively  and 
animated ;  in  fact  (if  by  any  stretch  of  imagination  the  reader  can 
connect  two  such  antagonistic  and  incongruous  ideas  as  Mr.  Crane 
and  flii-tation),  an  uninitiated  spectator,  beholding  the  pair,  might 
legitimately  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  Kate  Marsden  and  the 
cotton- spinner  were  very  decidedly  and  unmistakably  flirting. 

The  longest  evenings  come  to  an  end  at  last,  and  Coverdale  having 
seen  Knighton  safely  deposited  in  a  dog-cart,  with  nobody  to  bore 
but  a  sleepy  groom,  was  making  his  way  to  the  spot  where  the  bed- 
room candlesticks  were  usually  to  be  discovered,  when  he  suddenly 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  67 

encoxmtered  Mr.  Hazleliiirst.  Standing  aside  to  let  him  pass,  Hai-ry, 
in  his  most  polite  and  conciliatory  manner,  wished  him  good-night 
Tlie  only  reply  vouchsafed  was  the  slightest  and  stiffest  possible  nod 
of  the  head,  and  with  a  countenance  as  dark  and  lowering  as  the 
most  viciously  disposed  thunder-cloud,  the  offended  autocrat  passed 
on. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

"  DEEPER   AND   DEEPER   STILL." 

"When  Coverdale  reached  his  own  room,  his  first  act  was  to  lock  the 
door,  his  nest  to  fling  open  the  window ;  he  then  untied  his  neck- 
cloth, pulled  off  his  coat  and  boots,  and  substituting  for  them  a 
dressing-gown  and  slippers,  cast  a  long,  lingering  glance  at  his  cigar- 
case.  Shaking  his  head  negatively,  he  muttered,  "I  daren't  risk  it; 
old  Hazlehurst  has  a  wonderful  nose  for  tobacco — if  it  were  but 
as  good  for  partridges  and  pheasants  he'd  make  an  invaluable 
retriever !  " — he  paused,  sighed  deeply,  partly  for  want  of  a.  cigar — 
partly  because,  though  he  Avas  not  at  all  aware  of  it,  one  of  the 
g'reat  realities  of  life  was  for  the  first  time  dawning  upon  him  ;  then 
drawing  a  chair  to  the  open  window  he  seated  himself,  and  gave  way 
to  thought. 

"  I've  made  a  pretty  mess  of  it  this  evening,  and  no  mistake ! " 
— thus  ran  his  ideas — "  gone  and  offended  the  governor,  and  rendered 
him  as  cantankerous  as  an  old  rhinoceros,  so  that  the  more  I  want 
him  to  do  anything,  the  less  likely  he'll  be  to  do  it.  Then,  in  my 
confounded  good-nature,  I've  allowed  that  ass  Knighton  to  detain 
me  with  his  stupid  prosing,  so  that  I  lost  sight  of  the  cotton-spinner, 
and  gave  him  a  chance  of  making  Alice  an  offer — a  chance  of  which 
the  old  fellow  was  inspired  with  wit  enough  to  avail  himself,  I'm 
almost  certain,  Arthiir  will  be  pi'eciously  savage !  and  enough  to 
make  him— the  notion  of  sacrificing  Alice  to  siTch  an  old  anatomy  as 
that — a  yellow-skinned  brute  like  a  resuscitated  miimmy,  without 
more  than  two  ideas  in  his  head,  and  two  such  ideas — cash  and  cotton  ! 
he  thinks  of  nothing  else,  asleep  or  awake.  I  wonder  what  answer 
Alice  gave  him ;  but  there  isn't  much  doubt  of  that,  the  poor  girl 
daren't  disobey  her  father — besides,  women  don't  refuse  =£20,000  a 
year.  Well,  I  wish  old  Crane  joy  of  his  bargain.  She'll  soon  get  sick 
of  him,  and  be  miserable  of  course  ;  then  she'll  take  to  flirting  with 
every  young  fellow  she  meets,  to  get  rid  of  her '  ennui ' ;  choose  out  one 


68  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

to  establish  a  platonic  f riendsliip  with,  perhaps !— I've  seen  all  that 
sort  of  thing  in  France  and  Italy  often  enough.  D'Almayne  very 
likely,  he's  just  the  sort  of  puppy  to  lead  a  woman  on — she  lavighs  at 
him  now,  but  it  may  be  different  when  she's  only  old  Crane  to 
contrast  him  with.  By  the  way,  I'll  give  Arthur  a  hint  on  that 
score."  He  rose,  paced  up  and  down  the  room  several  times,  then 
continued—"  I  wonder  what  the  deuce  is  the  matter  with  me !  I  feel 
most  absurdly  and  impleasantly  miserable."  He  reseated  himself  by 
the  window,  tossed  back  his  hair,  and  sat  silently  watching  the  moon, 
just  then  emerging  from  behind  a  bank  of  clouds.  It  was  a  time  and 
scene  to  elevate  and  refine  man's  nature ;  and  Harry  was  not  in- 
sensible to  the  influence.  He  thought  of  his  boyhood,  and  his 
mother's  tender  love  ;  he  recurred  to  the  moonlight  stroll  in  which 
he  hadi  confided  these  cherished  memories  to  Alice,  and  the  warm 
and  ready  sympathy  with  which  she  listened  to  the  recital ;  then 
minute  points  in  their  subsequent  intercom-se  forced  themselves  into 
his  recollection — smiles,  words,  and  glances,  trifles  in  themselves,  but 
when  collected,  suggestive  of  a  definite  idea ;  and  lastly,  her  look 
when  she  quitted  the  dining-room  that  evening  flashed  across  him, 
and  with  a  sudden  start  he  pressed  his  hand  to  his  forehead  as  he 
resumed — "  Fool  that  I  am,  I  see  it  all  now — now  when  it  is  too  late  ! 
I  love  her,  and  I  might  have  won  her  love— it  only  required  to  tell  her 
of  my  own  feelings,  to  change  the  affectionate  interest  she  has  con- 
ceived for  me  into  a  warmer  sentiment ;  and  now,  perhaps  piqued  by 
my  apparent  indifference,  she  has  accepted  this  man,  and  sealed  her 
own  unhappiness — and  mine  too,  for  that  matter ;  but  I  deserve  it ! 
Why  did  I  let  this  chance  of  a  bright  future  escape  me  !  To  fancy 
that  the  mere  physical  excitements  of  hunting  and  shooting  (pastimes 
for  a  thoughtless  boy)  could  content  a  being  endowed  with  reason 
and  feeling ! — though  really  I  doubt  whether  I  deserve  such  a  title. 
I  must  have  been  blind — stultified,  not  to  see  all  this  before ! " 
Burying  his  face  in  his  hands,  he  remained  for  some  time  in  deep 
and  self -upbraiding  thought ;  rousing  himself  at  length  by  an  effort, 
he  continued — "  well !  it's  no  good  sitting  here  tormenting  myself  all 
night  long — I'll  go  to  bed  (though,  of  course,  I  shall  not  sleep  a 
wink),  and  in  the  morning  I'll  walk  over  to  the  station,  meet  Arthur 
— tell  him  how  I've  mismanaged  everything  he  expected  me  to  do, 
and  find  some  excuse  for  leaving  this  place  to-morrow.  I  should  go 
mad  if  I  were  to  stay  here  longer  !  Heigho !  I  wonder  what  will 
become  of  me — it  will  be  no  i^leasure  to  look  forward  to  the  shooting 
season  now !  I  don't  believe  I  shall  ever  care  to  hit  a  bird  or  mount 
a  horse  again.  I'll  go  to  India,  and  join  the  army  as  a  volunteer,  or 
start  off  to  look  for  the  north  pole,  or  something.  I  shall  hang 
myself  if  I  stay  at  home,  and  do  nothing  but  think  about  Alice  and 
that  detestable  old  Crane!"  By  the  time  his  meditations  had 
reached  this  point,  Coverdale  was  unrobed,  and,  jumping  disconso- 
lately into  bed,  had  not  laid  his  head  on  his  piUow  for  five  minutes 
ere  he  fell  soimd  asleep,  and  dreamed  of  a  battue,  in  which  he  triei 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        69 

to  shoot  Mr.  Crane  (who,  on  that  occasion  only,  appeared  ornitho- 
loorically  and  picturesquely  attired  in  the  tail  and  plumage  of  a  cock- 
pheasant),  and  could  by  no  means  induce  his  gun  to  go  off. 

The  sun  shining  in  through  the  open  window  awoke  Harry,  when 
he  fancied  he  might  have  been  asleep  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour ;  on 
referring  to  his  watch,  however,  he  found  it  was  half -past  six,  and  as 
the  train  by  which  Arthur  Hazlehurst  was  expected  would  arrive  at 
twenty  minutes  past  seven,  and  it  was  a  good  half -hour's  walk  to  the 
station,  he  rose  and  began  dressing.  As  his  thoughts  recurred  to  the 
events  of  the  previous  evening,  all  his  cares  and  anxieties  came  back 
upon  him  with  redoubled  force,  and  he  felt  more  thoroughly  out  of 
sorts  and  unhappy  than  he  ever  remembered  to  have  done  since  he 
had  come  to  man's  estate.  When  the  operation  of  shaving  obliged 
him  to  look  in  the  glass,  he  was  surprised,  and  if  the  truth  must  be 
told,  rather  alarmed  also,  as  he  caught  sight  of  the  expression  of  his 
features.  "  "What  a  hang-dog,  miserable  brute  T  look  like  !  "  he 
muttered  to  himself ;  "  it  strikes  me  I  drank  more  wine  than  is  good 
for  one  last  night — that  comes  of  old  Hazlehurst  bringing  out 
burgundy  after  everybody  had  had  enough.  The  old  boy  must  have 
been  frightfully  screwed  himself,  or  he  would  never  have  got  so 
cantankerous  with  me  about  nothing — I  hate  a  man  who  grows 
quairelsome  over  his  liquor  !  Heigho  !  I  feel  shockingly  seedy  and 
down  in  the  mouth.  What  the  deuce  am  I  to  say  to  Arthur ! — how 
on  earth  am  I  to  set  things  right  again  with  the  old  man  !  I  wonder 
whether  he  will  be  stupid  enough  to  expect  me  to  make  an  apology  ? 
I  wouldn't  mind  doing  it  to  an  old  codger  like  that,  but  'pon  my  word 
I  should  not  know  what  to  say— I've  nothing  to  apologize  about  that 
I  can  see.  I  hope  Arthur  won't  be  angi-y,  or  worse  still,  unhappy 
about  Alice — poor,  dear  Alice  :  if  she  comes  down  to  breakfast  look- 
ing miserable,  I  shall  never  be  able  to  stand  it !  I'd  better  not  look  at 
her  at  all — that  will  be  the  only  plan :  I'll  be  oif  before  hmcheon. 
"When  I  get  home,  all  by  myself,  and  have  nothing  to  do  but  sit  and 
think,  I  shall  have  a  pleasant  life  of  it !  Well,  I  certainly  have  gone 
and  done  it  this  time  handsomely — rather ! " 

Thus  fretting  and  worrying  himself  he  finished  di-essing,  and, 
making  his  way  quietly  do^vn  stairs,  effected  his  exit  imobserved. 
Fancying  he  was  late  he  started  at  a  brisk  walk,  and  having  crossed 
the  open  part  of  the  park,  reached  a  stile  at  the  entrance  of  a  grass- 
grown  footpath  overshadowed  with  trees.  Before  entering  this  he 
looked  at  his  watch,  and  found  that  instead  of  too  late  he  was  too 
early,  by  nearly  half  an  horn* ;  accordingly,  getting  leism-ely  over  the 
stile,  he  strolled  onward  in  the  direction  of  a  rustic  bench,  which  he 
remembered  to  have  seen  some  short  distance  farther  up  the  path, 
where,  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  he  proposed  to  console  himseH  with 
a  cigar.  As  he  came  in  sight  of  this  bench  he  perceived  that  it  was 
occupied,  and  a  second  glance  was  scarcely  needed  to  convince  him 
that  the  oecii]5ant  was  Alice.  For  a  moment  he  was  perplexed  as  to 
what  com-se  to  take,  whether  to  join  her,  or  to  retrace  his  steps,  and 


70  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

avoid  a  meeting  wliicli  lie  felt,  under  the  circumstances,  must 
necessarily  be  most  embarrassing.  Perceiving  that  the  yovmg  lady's 
head  was  turned  in  the  opposite  direction,  and  that  she  had  therefore 
not  yet  seen  him,  he  drew  back  a  pace  or  two,  so  as  to  place  the  trunk 
of  a  towering  elm  between  them.  "  What  shall  I  do  ? "  thought 
HaiTy ;  "  I  have  not  an  idea  what  to  say  to  her  that  would  be  likely 
to  be  of  any  use ;  in  fact,  there's  nothing  to  be  said.  She  has 
accepted  old  Crane,  and  now  she's  come  here  to  meet  Arthur,  tell  him 
what  she's  done,  say  she  could  not  help  it,  and  ask  him  to  forgive  her 
and  make  the  best  of  it.  I  shall  be  '  de  trop  '  evidently,  so  the  best 
thing  I  can  do  is  to  jog  back  again  ;  and  yet — and  yet  I  should  like 
to  walk  by  her  side,  and  look  into  her  dear  blue  eyes  once  more — 
heigho!  I  almost  wish  my  dream  would  come  true,  only  reversed, 
and  that  I  were  the  pheasant  and  Crane  going  to  shoot  me,  though 
I  should  not  be  in  much  danger,  for  the  old  mufO  would  be  safe  to 
miss  me.  Well,  I  suppose  I'd  better  be  ofB — is  she  there  still  ?  yes, 
but  what  is  she  doing — crying  ? — why,  by  heaven,  she's  crying  as  if 
her  heai-t  would  break  !  Oh,  you  know  I  can't  stand  this,  so  it's  no 
use  thinking  any  more  about  it ;  speak  to  her  I  must  and  will !  " 
And,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he  was  about  to  spring  forward 
and  join  her,  when  it  occurred  to  him  that  it  would  only  distress  and 
annoy  her  if  he  were  to  obtiTide  his  presence  upon  her  when, 
imagining  herself  alone,  she  was  unrestrainedly  giving  way  to  her 
grief ;  so,  with  that  tact  springing  from  innate  delicacy  of  feeling 
whicli  prevented  Coverdale's  honest,  straightforward  character  from 
ever  becoming  rough  or  overbearing,  he  waited  till  poor  Alice  had 
dried  her  tears,  and  with  slow,  listless  footsteps  (sadly  different  from 
her  usual  bounding  and  elastic  gait)  resumed  her  walk  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  railway  station.  As  soon  as  she  was  fairly  started  Harry 
emerged  from  his  hiding-place,  and  followed  her  with  vigorous 
strides.  When  he  had  approached  within  hearing  distance,  he 
endeavoured  by  various  means,  such  as  stamping  with  his  feet, 
bnishing  against  the  underwood  as  he  passed,  and  the  like,  to  render 
her  aware  of  his  presence,  but  for  some  minutes  without  success. 
At  length,  however,  a  violent  onslaught  he  made  against  a  blackthorn 
bush  (by  which  means  he  acquired  a  practical  knowledge  of  the 
penetrating  i^roperties  of  thorns)  attracted  her  attention,  and  with  a 
start  sufficiently  violent  to  show  that  her  nervous  system  was  un- 
usually excited,  she  turned  and  beheld  him.  Reassured  by  finding 
that  the  alarming  sounds  had  been  caused  by  the  approach  of  a 
friend,  rather  than  by  that  of  a  wild  beast  or  an  ogre  (plagues  so 
common  in  the  midland  counties  of  "  England  in  y^  nineteenth 
centui-y,"  that  of  course  her  imagination  had  instantly  suggested 
them),  Alice  waited  till  he  came  up,  and  received  him  with  her  cus- 
tomary bright  smile,  although  her  heightened  colour,  and  an  unusual 
degree  of  consciousness  in  her  manner,  proved  that  for  some  reason 
the  meeting  rather  emban-assed  her  also. 
"  You  walk  betimes,  Miss  Hazleliurst,"  liegan  Harry,  anxious  to 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  71 

break  tlie  ice,  but  not  knowincr  in  the  slightest  degree  how,  when  it 
should  be  broken,  he  was  going  to  proceed :  "'  Tou  are  really  a  pattern 
of  early  rising  ;  but  I  have  a  notion  we  are  both  bound  on  the  same 
eiTand.  namely,  to  meet  Ai-thur — am  I  wrong  ?  " 

"  QiTite  right,"  was  the  reply ;  "  I  got  up  at  a  wonderfully  early 
hour ;  I  siippose  I  was  too  much  excited  by  such  an  unaccustomed 
event  as  a  dinner-party  to  be  able  to  sleep  at  all  soundly." 

"Tou  look  fagged  and  weary  even  now,"  returned  Coverdale, 
regarding  her  anxiously,  "  and  you  will  fatigue  youi-self  still  more 
by  walking  to  the  station  and  back.  Are  you  prudent  to  undertake 
so  long  an  expedition  before  breakfast  ?  " 

"  Oh  yes,"  was  the  reply ;  it  will  refresh  me  and  do  me  good ; 
besides,  I  want  particularly  to  see  and  talk  to  Arthur." 

"  I  will  accompany  you  as  far  as  the  station,  if  you  will  allow  me," 
returaed  Harry,  "  and,  as  soon  as  your  brother  amves,  leave  you  to 
talk  with  him  in  peace ;  the  few  words  I  have  to  say  to  ,him  will  do 
equally  well  after  breakfast." 

Alice  signified  her  consent,  and  the  conversation  continued  for 
several  mintites  to  turn  on  indifferent  subjects,  though  the  burden  of 
sustaining  it  fell  chiefly  upon  Alice,  Harry's  observations  becoming 
shorter  and  less  coherent  at  each  reply.  At  length,  however,  Alice's 
stock  of  small  talk  failed  her,  and  Hariy,  in  despair,  was  about  to 
hazard  some  such  original  observation  as,  that  the  grass  was  looking 
remarkably  green,  when  his  companion  suddenly  addressed  him. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  you  will  think  that  I  am  interfering  very  un- 
necessarily and  impertinently,  Mr.  Coverdale,  but  I  must  trust  to 
your  kindness  to  make  allowance  for  me." 

"  She  is  actually  going  to  confess  the  cotton-spinner  to  me,  and 
tell  me  I'm  in  the  way,  I  do  believe  !  Cool  hands  women  are,  and  no 
mistake ! "  thought  Coverdale ;  he  only  said,  however,  "  Pray  go 
on." 

"The  fact  is,"  resumed  Alice,  -wdth  a  faltering  voice,  "  my  brother 
Tom  informed  me  (you  must  not  be  angry  with  the  poor  boy,  for  he 
did  it  out  of  regard  for  you)  that  you — that  is,  that  my  father  and 
you  differed  about  some  political  question  after  dinner  yesterday, 
and  that  my  father  was  so  can-ied  away  by  the  subject  as  to  become 
injudiciously  warm,  and,  from  Tom's  account,  personal,  and  that  his 
observations  annoyed  you.  Now,  I  am  so  veiy  soiTy  this  should  have 
occurred,  for  he  had  formed  such  a  high  opinion  of  you,  and  Ai'thur 
was  so  much  pleased  to  see  how  well  you  got  on  with  him — a  point 
on  which  he  appeared  particularly  anxious."  (Coverdale  bit  his  lip, 
and  cut  off  a  thistle's  head  viciously  with  his  cane.)  "  But,  if  you 
could  be  so  very  good  as  to  overlook  anything  my  father  may  have 
said,  it  would  make  me — I  mean  it  would  make  Arthur,  and — and — 
all  of  us  so  much  happier." 

"My  dear  Miss  Hazlehurst,"  began  Harry  vehemently,  "how 
very  kind  of  you  to  trouble  yourself  about  me !  I  can  assure  you  I 
am  most  anxious  to  say  or  do  anything  to  regain  Mr.  Hazlehurst's 


72  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

good  opinion.  I  know  I  made  him  rather  an  impertinent  answer  ; 
but  really  I  was  so  unprepared  for  such  an  attack ;  and  then,  to 
make  matters  worse,  that  old  idiot,  Mr.  Crane — that  is,"  he  con- 
tinued, suddenly  recollecting'  to  whom  he  was  speaking,  and  turning 
crimson  as  he  did  so,  "  I  beg  yoiu-  pardon  for  speaking  so  disrespect- 
fully of  him  to  you;  I  really  forgot — I  am  certainly  losing  my 
senses !  "  With  a  blush  as  bright,  though  not  quite  so  deep  coloured 
as  that  of  Coverdale,  Alice,  turning  away  her  head,  replied, — 

"  Mr.  Crane's  only  claim  on  my  respect  is,  that  he  is  my  father's 
friend  ;  if  I  must  own  the  truth,  I  do  not  myseK  consider  him  very 
wise." 

"  His  only  claim  did  you  say  !  "  exclaimed  Han-y  earnestly.  "  Oh, 
Miss  Hazlehurst — Alice — pardon  me  if  I  ask  yoii  to  deal  openly  with 
me ;  am  I  indeed  wrong  in  supposing  that  you  are  engaged,  or  about 
to  become  so,  to  Mr.  Crane  ?  " 

"  Oh  yes  ! "  was  the  hiuTied  reply  ;  "  such  a  fate  would  render  me 
most  miserable." 

Upon  this  hint  Harry  spake ;  the  reality  and  strength  of  his 
feelings  imparted  an  earnest  dignity  to  his  manner  and  an  imwonted 
eloquence  to  his  speech,  which  woiild  have  deeply  affected  his  fair 
auditor,  even  had  her  o"^\ti  heart  not  pleaded  warmly  in  his  favoiu*. 
As  it  was,  before  they  arrived  in  sight  of  the  railroad  station,  Han-y 
had  somehow  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  communication  he 
should  have  to  make  to  his  friend  Arthvir  would  be  veiy  miich  more 
satisfactory,  though  perhaps  little  less  emban-assing,  than  the  one  he 
had  originally  designed.  It  certainly  was  a  considerable  change  in 
the  tenoiu-  of  his  report  to  be  forced  to  explain  that,  instead  of  con- 
sidering himself  the  most  miserable  being  in  the  world,  he  felt  con- 
vinced he  was  by  far  the  happiest ;  for  that  Alice — resolved  not  to 
man-y  the  cotton-spinner — had  given  her  heart,  and  promised  her 
hand,  to  him. 

And  thus,  short,  sharp,  and  decisive,  began  and  ended  "  Harry 
Coverdale's  Courtship;"  all  the  results,  good  and  evil,  '"that 
came  of  it,"  may  be  learned  by  any  reader  sufficiently  perseveiing 
to  peruse  that  which  remains  to  be  told  of  this  veracious  history. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  73 


CHAPTER  XIY. 


DECIDEDLY    EMBARRASSING. 


Alice  and  Harry  were  so  deeply  engrossed  with  each  other,  and  so 
absorbed  in  the  interchange  of  those  mysterious  but  delightful 
nothings  which  form  the  staple  of  lovers'  communications,  and 
which,  deeply  interesting  to  the  happy  pair,  appear  to  the  un- 
susceptible public  the  veriest  nonsense  imaginable,  that  they  were 
still  some  distance  from  the  station  when  the  train  rushed  up, 
sneezed  out  a  few  passengers,  and,  snorting  and  coughing,  dashed  off 
like  a  well-disposed  fiery  dragon,  warranted  quiet  to  ride  and  drive. 
Walking  on  rapidly  they  soon  discovered  Arthur,  embarrassed  by  a 
carpet-bag  and  a  mackintosh,  making  the  best  of  his  way  to  meet 
them ;  the  moment  he  came  within  speaking  distance,  he  ex- 
claimed,— 

"  What  do  I  behold !  Harry  Coverdale  with  a  yoixng  lady  on  his 
arm  !  Surely  the  age  of  miracles  is  returaing !  well,  I  never  did ! 
did  you  ever  ?  And  Alice  looking  so  deliciously  self-satisfied  and 
unconscious,  too  !  Why,  you  stupid  little  owl  (you're  very  like  one, 
with  your  hooked  nose  and  great  eyes) ,  don't  you  know  you're  boring 
him  to  death  ?  he  cares  for  nothing  but  horses,  dogs,  and  guns,  and 
above  all  perfectly  abominates  women." 

Alice  smiled,  and  attempted  to  make  a  playful  rejoinder,  but  in 
vain, — her  heart  was  too  full ;  had  she  spoken  at  that  moment  she 
must  have  burst  into  tears.     The  speech  affected  Han-y  differently. 

"  I  do  nothing  of  the  kind,"  he  said  angrily;  "  Ai'thur,  how  can 
you  be  so  absiird !  "  Pausing  for  a  moment,  the  ludicrous  nature  of 
the  situation  occuiTed  to  him,  and  with  difficulty  restraining  a 
laugh,  he  turned  the  conversation  by  seizing  his  friend's  carpet-bag, 
exclaiming  as  he  did  so,  "  Come,  give  it  up,  of  course  I'm  not  going 
to  let  you  carry  it;  you're  looking  horridly  thin  and  pale,  as 
Londoners  always  do :  is  he  not,  Al — a — ,  Miss  Hazlehurst  ?  What ! 
you  refuse  ;  give  it  up  this  instant,  or  I  declare  I'll  can-y  you  and  it 
too." 

During  the  playful  striiggle  which  ensued  for  the  possession  of  the 
cai-pet-bag,  in  which  contention  Han-y  was  soon  victorious.  Alice, 
glad  to  obtain  a  few  minutes  in  which  to  compose  herself,  walked  on. 
As  the  young  men  hastened  to  rejoin  her,  Hazlehurst,  laying  his 
hand  on  Coverdale's  arm,  inquired,  "  How  has  it  all  gone  off  P  Crane 
hasn't  ventured  to  offer  yet,  of  course  ?  " 

"Yes,  by  Jove,  he  has  thoiigh!"  was  the  reply;  "the  old  muff 


74  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

contrived  to  pop  last  night— confound  liim  ! — wlien  I  was  out  of  the 
room,  and  hadn't  a  chance  of  throwing  anything  at  his  head." 

"  And  Alice  ?  '"  iiiquii-ed  the  brother  eagerly ;  but  his  eagerness 
frustrated  its  own  purpose  (no  uncommon  case  by  the  way),  for, 
pronouncing  the  name  in  a  louder  key  than  he  was  aware  of,  the  fair 
OAvner  thereof  stopped  short,  and  thus  prevented  the  possibility  of 
further  explanation.  As  they  continued  their  homeward  walk, 
Arthur,  who  was  a  quick  observer,  soon  detected  a  change  in  Haii-y's 
manner  towards  his  sister;  for  which,  at  first,  he  felt  excessively 
puzzled  to  account.  A  respectful  tenderness  was  apparent  in  his 
tone  when  he  addressed  her,  and  he  exhibited  a  degree  of  eager, 
almost  affectionate,  solicitude  for  her  ease  and  comfort,  in  all  the 
minor  incidents  of  a  coimtry  walk,  such  as  Hazlehurst,  during  the 
whole  of  their  intimacy,  had  never  before  seen  him  evince  towards  a 
young  lady. 

"  What  has  come  to  Harry  now,  I  wonder  P  "  thus  ran  his  reflec- 
tions ;  '■  if  it  were  any  one  in  the  world  but  him,  I  should  say  he  was 
flirting  with  Alice ;  but  Harry  never  flirted  in  his  life,  so  that  is 
impossible."  He  pondered  for  a  moment,  then  an  idea  struck  him. 
"  I  see  it  now ;  my  father  has  forced  the  poor  child  to  accept  old 
Crane  :  Harry  knows  it,  and  the  pity  his  kind  wai'm-hearted  nature 
leads  him  to  feel  towards  her  influences  his  manner.  They  were 
each  coming  to  tell  me  all  that  has  occurred,  and  have  met  by 
accident ;  yes,  that  must  be  it."  In  oi'der,  however,  more  fully  to 
satisfy  himself  of  the  correctness  of  his  theory,  he  observed,  in  his 
usual  light,  jesting  manner,  "I  think,  Mr.  Coverdale,  it  behoves  me, 
as  '  a  man  and  a  Ijrother,'  to  inquire  how  you  happen  to  be  marching 
about  the  country, '  tete-a-tete '  with  my  sister,  at  this  unconscionably 
early  hour  ?  " 

Harry,  who,  between  his  desire  to  enlighten  Arthur  as  to  the  new 
and  transcend ently  tdelightful,  but  especially  embarrassing  turn 
affairs  had  taken,  and  the  impossibility  of  doing  so  before  Alice — 
the  overpowering  nature  of  his  feelings  towards  that  young  lady, 
and  his  extreme  happiness  at  finding  them  reciprocated — the  great 
and  imminent  danger  in  re  Crane,  and  the  humiliating  confession 
regarding  his  lost  inflxience  with  Mr.  Hazlehurst,  together  with  the 
awkwai'd  position  in  which  he  stood  towards  that  outraged  and 
obdurate  elder — was  in  a  tremendous  fi'ame  of  mind,  merely  started 
and  stared  vacantly  at  his  interrogator. 

But  Alice,  having  by  this  time  regained  in  some  degree  her  self- 
possession,  replied  qiiietiy,  '"  Mr.  Coverdale  and  I  were  both  coming 
to  meet  you,  and  encountering  each  other  accidentally,  walked  on 
together." 

As  she  spoke,  Arthur,  striving  to  i-ead  her  countenance,  fixed  his 
eyes  upon  her.  Unable  to  meet  his  glance  she  turned  away  with  an 
April  look,  half  tears  half  smiles.  "  It  must  be  as  I  thought," 
reflected  Ai-thur  ;  "  but  if  anything  is  to  be  done  to  save  her.  no  time 
should  be  lost.    Ill  not  waste  the  present  opportunity.    My  dear 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OB^  IT  75 

Coverdale,"  he  continued  aloud,  "I  wish  to  have  a  few  minutes' 
private  conversation  with  my  sister ;  you  and  I  are  too  old  friends  to 
stand  upon  ceremony,  so  you  will  not  be  offended  if  I  ask  you  to 
walk  on,  and  wait  for  us  at  the  stile  at  the  end  of  the  ])ath." 

This  direct  appeal  brought  Han-y  to  his  senses,  but  not  feeling 
sure  whether  Alice  would  approve  of  ha\'ing  the  whole  burden  of 
explanation  thrown  upon  her,  he  glanced  inquiringly  towards  her 
ere  he  ventured  to  reply.  Now.  Alice,  fond  as  she  was  of  her  brother, 
was  also  (from  their  difference  in  point  of  age,  as  well  as  from  the 
fact  that  Arthur's  nature  was  more  firm  and  resolute  than  her  own, 
and  his  manner  quick  and  abrupt)  a  little  afraid  of  him.  Thus, 
being  aware  how  very  highly  he  esteemed  Coverdale — an  estimation 
which  she  was  inclined  to  transcend  rather  than  to  depreciate — a 
sudden  fear  seized  her  lest  Ai-thur,  deeming  her  a  mere  silly  child, 
should  consider  his  friend  had  done  a  fooHsh  thing  in  choosing  her 
for  a  wife,  when  he  might  have  selected,  at  the  very  least,  some 
strong-minded  peeress,  and  that  he  might  be  augry  with  her  for  her 
presumption  in  having  accepted  him.  This  feeling,  overpowering 
for  the  moment  every  other,  induced  her  to  respond  to  Hany's  look 
of  inquiry  by  a  slight  shake  of  the  head,  and  a  glance  which  would 
have  kept  him  by  her  side  if  a  whole  regiment  of  brothers,  armed 
with  Minie  rifles  and  Colt's  revolvers,  had  attempted  to  separate 
them.  But  Arthui-,  being  totally  unarmed,  and  having  simply  asked 
a  civil  question,  the  answer  which  Harry,  appropriately  quoting 
Walter  Scott,  might  have  made  to  the  hypothetical  regiment,  "  Come 
one,  come  all,  this  rock  (not  that  there  was  a  rock,  but  that  is  a  trifle) 
will  fly  from  its  firm  base  as  soon  as  I,"  was  imfitted  for  the  present 
emergency,  and  no  other  equally  good  suggested  itself.  What  he 
did  say  was  this, — 

'•  A — really — of  course  I'd  do  it  in  a  minute,  my  dear  fellow — but 
— a — I'm  not  quite  sure," — here  he  glanced  at  Alice — "  that  is,  I'm 
positively  certain  that— a — in  fact,  the  thing's  impossible." 

'•  You're  certain  that  it's  impossible  that  you  can  walk  on  to  the 
stile  before  Alice  and  me  !  My  dear  Harry,  what  are  you  talking— 
or  rather  (for  the  truth  is  you're  preoccupied),  what  are  you  thinking 
about  ?  "  inquired  Arthur,  in  amazement,  seeing  from  the  expression 
of  his  friend's  countenance  that  he  was  really  anxious  and  excited. 
Coverdale  was  again  hesitating  how  to  reply,  when  Alice  relieved 
him  from  his  difiiculty  by  saying  hurriedly,  "  I  will  walk  on,  and 
leave  you  to  talk  to  Mr.  Coverdale." 

As  she  spoke,  they  reached  the  rustic  bench  before  alluded  to,  and 
Ai-thur.  completely  mystified,  seated  himself,  and  made  a  sign  to 
Coverdale  to  follow  his  example. 

"  One  moment,  and  I'll  be  with  you,"  replied  Coverdale,  springing 
to  Alice's  side  ;  "  then  I  may  tell  him  everything  ?  "  he  continued. 

"  Oh  yes,"  was  the  unhesitating  answer. 

"  And  you  will  wait  for  us  at  the  stile  ?  I  won't  detain  him  five 
minutes." 


76  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  If  you  wish  it." 

"  Can  yoiT  doubt  it  ?  "  were  the  necessary  lover-like  rejoinders ; 
and  Coverdale  returaed  to  his  friend,  who  looked  especially  puzzled 
and  slightly  provoked. 

"  Now  be  silent !  "  exclaimed  Hazlehurst,  as  Han-y  was  about,  with 
the  greatest  volubility,  to  plunge  at  once  "  in  medias  res."  "  You 
have  lived  amongst  women  till  you've  learned  to  chatter  like  them, 
I  think.  I  shall  never  bring  you  to  the  point,  unless  you  vnll  let  me 
cross-examine  you." 

"  Fire  away,  then ;  only  look  sharp,  for  your  sister  must  not  be 
kept  waiting,"  was  the  reply. 

"  YouVe  grown  wonderfully  polite  and  attentive  all  of  a  sudden," 
returned  Arthur  sarcastically.  "  But  now  listen  to  me.  Has  Crane 
made  Alice  an  offer  ?  " 

Harry  replied  in  the  aflBrmative. 
"  Did  she  refuse  him  ?  " 

"  Of  course  she  did,"  was  the  disdainful  rejoinder. 
"  I  don't  see  any  '  of  course '  in  it,"  returned  Hazlehurst  moodily. 
"  My  father  is  resolved  on  the  match :  Alice  has  been  brought  up 
to  obey  him  implicitly,  and  the  habit  of  obedience  is  very  strong  in 
such  a  gentle,  yielding  nature  as  hers." 

"  If  she  is  gentle  and  yielding,  I'm  not ! "  exclaimed  Harry 
vehemently ;  "  and  with  your  support,  and  the  knowledge  that  his 
daughter's  happiness  is  at  stake,  Mr.  Hazlehurst  must  listen  to 
reason." 

"  My  dear  boy,"  returned  Ai-thur  earnestly,  "  what  a  warm-hearted, 
thorough-going  friend  you  are !  You  really  take  as  much  interest  in 
the  affair  as  if  it  were  youi*  own.  I  see  you  naturally  reckon  on  the 
extent  of  your  influence  with  my  father,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe 
you  do  not  oveiTate  it.  Why,  what  is  the  matter  now  ?  Have  you 
taken  leave  of  your  senses  ?  " 

This  inquiry  refeiTed  to  a  sudden  and  alarming  outbreak  on  the 
part  of  Coverdale,  who,  when  his  influence  with  Mr.  Hazlehurst  was 
mentioned,  sprang  to  his  feet,  uttering  what  mild  mammas,  engaged 
in  the  moral  instruction  of  their  tender  offspring,  tei'm  a  "  naughty 
word." 

"  You  are  enough  to  drive  one  mad ! "  he  exclaimed  angrily ; 
"  saying,  and  making  me  say,  all  sorts  of  absurd  things  at  cross- 
pui-poses,  because  you  won't  listen  to  the  explanation  I'm  remaining 
here  on  purpose  to  give  you ;  keeping  Alice  waiting,  too  !  " 

"  Well,  let  her  wait,"  returned  Arthvu- testily,  woiTied  by  HaiTy's 
constant  reference  to  this  point ;  "  anybody  would  think  you  were 
Alice's  lover  instead  of  old  Crane !  " 

"  And  so  I  am,"  was  the  iinexpected  rejoinder ;  "  and  what  is  more, 
old  fellow,  her  accepted  lover  also !  Oh,  Aithur,"  he  continued, 
seating  himself  by  his  friend's  side,  and  laying  his  arm  on  his 
shoulder,  "  I'm  the  happiest,  luckiest  dog  in  existence !  To  think 
that    she    should  be  able  to  love  such  a  rough,  uncultivated — but 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  77 

you  are  not  displeased,  are  you — surprised,  of  course,  you  must 
be." 

"  Surprised,  indeed,"  was  tlie  reply ;  "  so  much  so,  that  even  yet  I 
can  scarcely  believe  it ;  it  has  almost  taken  my  breath  away  !  But 
displeased !— why,  my  dear  Harry,  I'd  rather  she  married  you  than 
any  man  breathing,  be  he  prince,  duke,  or  what  not.  It  is  the  most 
charming,  glorious,  wonderful  thing  that  ever  haiDpened !  Biit  even 
now  I  can't  conceive  how  it  has  come  about ;  and  yet,  when  I  begin 
to  reflect,  I  fancied  that  Alice  was  growing  shy  and  conscious  in 
regard  to  something  or  somebody,  before  I  went  away.  It's  natural 
enough  that  she  should  fall  in  love  with  you ;  but  that  you  should 
take  a  fancy  to  her,  or  indeed  to  any  girl,  does,  I  own,  surprise  me. 
I  had  so  thoroughly  made  up  my  mind  that  you  meant  to  be  an  old 
bachelor." 

"  You  could  not  have  done  so  more  completely  than  I  had," 
rejoined  Hariy ;  "  but  the  fact  is,  that  from  the  first  moment  in 
which  I  saw  your  sister  I  fell  in  love  with  her,  though  I  had  not  the 
most  remote  idea  of  it  at  the  time.  I  can  trace  it  all  now ;  hence  my 
dislike  of  D'Almajme  and  the  iDOor  old  cotton-spinner.  I  was  afraid 
the  fascinations  of  the  one  might  win  her  heart,  or  the  fortune  of 
the  other  obtain  her  hand — in  fact,  I  was  unconsciously  jealous  of 
them  both.  But  now  come  on,  we  are  really  keeping  Alice  an  un- 
reasonable time.  Aye,  you  may  laugh;  I  don't  care  a  sou  now  that 
you  know  all  about  it.  Why,  Arthiir,  old  boy,  you  will  be  my  real 
'  bona  fide '  brother  one  of  these  days ! — that  is  a  contingent  ad- 
vantage Avhich  has  only  just  occurred  to  me." 

Seizing  his  friend's  hand  as  he  spoke,  he  pressed  it  with  such  good- 
will, that  Hazlehurst  was  enabled  to  give  a  shrewd  guess  at  the 
sensation  prodiiced  by  that  interesting  medieeval  amenity,  the  thumb- 
screw. And  thus  mutually  pleased  and  excited,  the  young  men 
proceeded,  both  talking  volubly,  and  generally  at  the  same  moment, 
till  they  reached  the  stile,  where  they  found  Alice  awaiting  them, 
looking  very  timid,  very  conscious,  but  exceedingly  pretty.  She 
need  not  have  been  luieasy,  however,  for  Arthur  had  too  much  good 
taste  and  kind  feeling  to  laugh  at  her  at  that  moment ;  on  the 
contrary,  he  hastened  to  set  her  mind  at  rest  by  whispering,  as  he 
imprinted  a  kiss  on  her  glowing  cheek, — 

"  My  darling  child,  you  have  made  me  almost  as  hajppy  as  you  have 
rendered  him." 

The  walk  home  was  a  very  delightful  one.  Alice  leaned  on  Harry's 
stalwart  arm,  and  felt  the  most  perfect  and  in-ational  confidence  in 
his  power  to  shield  her  from  the  effects  of  her  father's  anger,  Mr. 
Crane's  despair,  and  all  other  uncomfortable  consequences  of  the 
act  of  filial  disobedience  which  she  meditated.  Harry,  already 
experiencing  a  sensation  of  delicious  proprietorship  in  regard  to  the 
sweet  girl  beside  him,  felt  himseK  exalted  in  the  scale  of  humanity, 
and  held  his  head  a  good  inch  higher  on  the  strength  of  it ;  from 
which  moral  and  physical  elevation  he  looked  down  upon  all  field- 


78  HARRY  CO  VERB  ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

sports  as  soulless  and  ignoble  pastimes,  and  despised  them 
accordingly.  Arthur,  Loping  that  his  sister's  attachment  to  a  man 
in  every  way  so  worthy  of  her  would  inspire  her  with  the  firmness 
requisite  to  withstand  successfully  his  father's  possible  opposition 
to  the  match,  and  that  the  matter  would  eventually  end  by  securing 
her  happiness  and  that  of  his  friend,  "  forgot  his  own  griefs,"  to 
rejoice  in  their  bright  prospects.  And  so  they  reached  the  pleasure- 
grounds,  where  Alice,  sejjarating  from  the  two  gentlemen,  ran  in  to 
compose  her  excited  feelings  before  appearing  at  breakfast. 

"  Arthur,  wait  one  moment,"  exclaimed  Coverdale,  laying  his  hand 
on  his  friend's  arm  to  detain  him  ;  "  I  have  something  important  to 
say  to  you ;— isn't  she  an  angel,  my  dear  boy  ?  " 

"  Why,  really,  my  good  fellow,  betAveen  friends,  and  seeing  that  you 
appear  to  attach  so  much  importance  to  the  fact,  I  should  say.  taking 
into  consideration  the  evidence  in  the  case,  and  coming  to  the  point 
without  any  unnecessary  prolixity,  that  she  was  by  no  means  an 
angel,  but  simply  a  very  pleasant  little  female  mortal,  and — ahem  ! 
my  poor  sister,  sir." 

"  Psha !  you  stiipid  old  humbug  ! "  returned  Harry,  giving  him  a 
playful  push,  which  caused  him  involuntarily  to  leap  over  a  flower- 
bed; "do  just  listen  to  me  for  a  minute,  and  give  me  a  sensible 
answer  if  you  can.  It's  all  very  pretty  for  my  darling  Alice,  and  you 
and  I,  to  settle  this  matter  so  sweetly  and  easily ;  but  remember, 
there's  the  governor  to  bring  round,  and  Crane  and  his  confounded 
^820,000  a  year  to  beat  out  of  the  field ;  it  strikes  me  we're  in  an 
awful  fix,  and  about  to  become  an  interesting  young  couple.  What 
is  to  be  the  next  move,  eh  ?  " 

"  Oh,  the  affair  lies  in  a  nutshell,"  returned  Hazlehurst.  "  Foi-tu- 
nately,  my  father  has  always  appreciated  you  properly,  and  now  the 
xmusual  degree  of  influence  you  have  acquired  over  him  will  stand 
you  in  good  stead.  He  may  be  a  little  annoyed  at  first,  when  he 
finds  he  miist  relinquish  his  favourite  design  of  pui'chasing  old 
Crane's  farm ;  but  he  is  very  fond  of  Alice,  and  very  proud  of  her." 

"  He'd  be  a  most  unnatural  old  heathen  if  he  wasn't,"  muttered 
Harry,  sotto  voce. 

"  Conseqviently,"  continued  Hazlehurst,  not  heeding  the  interrup- 
tion, "  when  he  perceives  the  immeasurable  advantages  to  be  obtained 
by  alloAving  her  to  marry  a  man  she  loves,  and  who  is  in  every  way 
deserving  of  her  affection,  instead  of  an  old  scarecrow,  who  will  be 
in  his  dotage  (I  believe  he  is  so  already,  more  or  less  !)  while  Ally  is 
still  quite  a  young  woman,  he  cannot  hesitate  for  a  moment  in  giving 
his  consent.  Tou  had  better  speak  to  him  the  instant  breakfast  is 
over ;  depend  upon  it  yoii'll  find  him  all  amiability." 

"  Depend  upon  it  I  shall  find  him  nothing  of  the  kind,"  returned 
Coverdale  snappishly ;  then,  seeing  the  look  of  surprise  that  spread 
over  his  friend's  countenance,  he  continued,  dejectedly  : — '*  Ah,  my 
dear  boy,  you  little  know  the  extent  to  which  I've  been  putting  my 
foot  in  it  since  you  went  away.    Tom  tells  me  I  annoyed  your 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  79 

governor  three  or  four  days  ago,  by  taking  tlie  nonsense  out  of  tliat 
beast  of  a  horse  old  Crane  bad  the  stupidity  to  give  Alice  ;  a  brute 
which  would  have  bi'oken  her  sweet  neck,  if  I  hadn't  luckily  been  at 
hand  to  catch  her  as  she  was  falling.  Then,  to  improve  the  matter, 
last  night  we  all  drank  wine  enough,  and  the  head  of  the  family 
got  a  little  too  much  into  it  to  be  good  for  its  proprietor ;  accord- 
ingly, he  forced  me  to  give  my  opinion  about  Free-trade,  and  then 
pitched  into  me  for  so  doing,  and  declared  I'd  insulted  him :  upon 
which  I  lost  my  temper,  and  said  something  rude  ;  and,  to  come  to 
the  point,  as  you  call  it,  he  is  now  as  savage  as  a  bear  with  me,  and 
all  the  blessed  influence  you've  been  paying  me  such  pretty  compli- 
ments  about,  if  it  ever  existed,  is  scattei'ed  to  the  winds.  I  dare  not 
speak  to  him,  it  would  be  worse  than  useless  ;  he'd  be  only  too  glad 
to  refuse  me  at  once,  lest  he  should  lose  such  a  good  opportunity  of 
paying  me  ofE  for  last  night.  Ah !  "  he  continued,  "  you  may  well 
look  pvizzled — you  would  not  like  to  have  many  clients  with  such  a 
talent  as  I  possess  for  unconsciously  cutting  their  own  tlu-oats  ! 
What's  to  be  done  ? — divide  the  wires  of  the  electric  telegraph  at 
King's  Cross  station,  and  then  take  Alice  along  the  Great  Northern 
to  Gretna  Green — though  Gretna  Green  has  been  done  brown  by 
some  recent  act,  has  it  not,  and  the  harmonious  and  hymeneal  black- 
smith retired  into  private  life  ?  Come,  advise,  for  I  can  hit  upon 
nothing ;  only  remember  one  thing — since  Alice  is  good  enough  to 
say  she  will  have  me,  married  I  must  and  will  be,  if  all  the  fathers  in 
England  were  to  set  themselves  against  it !  " 


CHAPTER  XV. 

RELATES   THE   UNEXPECTED   BENEVOLENCE   OF   HORACE 
D'aL3IAYNE. 

Arthur  Hazlehurst,  with  an  aspect  gi-aver  than  his  wont,  replied 
to  HaiTy's  appeal — "  It  cei-tainly  is  veiy  imfortunate  that  you  should 
have  selected  last  night,  of  all  others,  to  displease  my  father; 
because,  owing  to  the  Crane  o:ffer,  time  is  of  the  greatest  importance ; 
but  for  that  I  should  not  have  cared ;  you  would  only  have  had  to 
wait  for  a  week  or  two,  taking  pains  to  be  especially  polite  and 
deferential  in  the  interval,  and  he  would  have  totally  forgotten  his 
anger.  As  it  is,  perhaps  I  had  better  speak  to  him— he  is  sure  to 
tell  me  about  the  cotton-spinner,  and  I  can  avail  myself  of  that 
opportunity  to  come  to  the  point;  and  now,  if  you  have  nothing 


80  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

better  to  propose,  we'll  go  in  to  breakfast.  Love  may  possibly 
destroy  the  appetite,  but  a  raili-oad  journey  lias  a  directly  contrary 
effect." 

Harry  bad  nothing  better  to  propose— for  a  vague  suggestion  in 
regard  to  punching  old  Crane's  head,  if  he  (Crane)  did  not  mind 
what  he  was  about,  could  scarcely  be  considered  in  the  light  of  a 
serious,  practical  amendment— so  they  wentin  to  breakfast  accord- 
ingly. 

This  meal  appeared  to  be  a  most  unsatisfactory  one  to  "  all  who 
assembled  within  those  walls ;  "  for,  despite  the  presence  of  every 
delicacy  of  the  season,  and  a  few  over,  each  individual  seemed 
labouring  under  some  secret  sorrow,  and  a  general  wet  blanket 
damped,  and  hung  hea\'y  on,  the  spirits  of  the  whole  party,  with  the 
exception,  perhaps,  of  Horace  D'Almayne,  who  was  unusually 
animated,  and  watched  the  proceedings  with  a  look  of  quiet  pene- 
tration. 

When  the  ladies  quitted  the  room,  Mr.  Crane  called  Mr.  Hazle- 
hurst  aside,  and  informed  him  that  he  wished  for  the  honour  of  an 
interview;  to  which  request  that  gentleman  acceded  in  his  most 
gracious  manner,  and  they  adjourned  together  to  the  library. 

Harry,  with  a  significant  glance  to  Ai'thur  to  remain  on  the  look- 
out and  watch  proceedings,  strolled  off  with  Tom  on  some  horse-or- 
dog-inspecting  pretext,  but  really  to  keep  himself  out  of  harm's  way 
till  he  was  wanted — so  low  an  estimate  had  he  now  acquired  of  his 
own  diplomatic  abilities.  D'Almayne  and  Arthur  being  thus  left 
tete-a-tete,  the  former  accosted  the  latter  after  the  following 
fashion : — 

"  Hazlehurst, '  mon  cher,'  I  shall  die  of  ennui  if  we  have  many  such 
'  tristes  affaires  '  as  this  meal  of  which  we  have  just  pai-taken.  Now, 
without  being  more  inquisitive  than  my  neighbours,  you  cannot 
suppose  I  have  remained  entirely  in  the  dark  in  regard  to  the  little 
amusements  your  friends  and  relations  have  devised  to  vary  the 
monotony  of  life  withal." 

"  And  the  result  of  these  your  observations  ? "  inquired  Arthur 
coldly. 

"  Is,  that  the  various  interests  clash,  and  that  delicate  dilemmas 
innumerable  must,  ere  long,  present  their  horns ; — now  I,  being  an 
easy-tempered  fellow,  like  to  be  happy  myself,  and  to  see  every 
brother  man,  and  sister  woman,  hai^py  also.  I  shall,  therefore,  have 
much  pleasure  in  doing  '  mon  petit  possible '  to  smooth  away  these 
difficulties— an  endeavour  in  which  my  influence  with  our  good 
friend  Crane  will  gi-eatly  assist  me ;  but  to  enable  me  to  do  this,  you 
must  of  course  take  me  so  far  into  your  confidence  as  to  tell  me 
whether  I  am  right  in  my  preconceived  ideas — '  che  dice,  Signor  ?  '  " 

Arthur  reflected  for  a  moment — he  knew  D'Almayne  to  be  quick- 
sighted,  clear-headed,  and  fertile  in  expedient,  at  the  same  time  he 
believed  he  was  designing  and  self-interested ;  in  the  present  emer- 
gency, however,  he  might,  from  his  influence  with  Mr.   Crane,  be 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        81 

possibly  of  some  use,  wliile  lie  could  scarcely,  witli  the  worst  inten- 
tions, render  the  aspect  of  affairs  more  complicated  and  unsatisfactory 
than  it  now  appeared. 

Accordingly,  he  replied,  "  It  cannot  involve  any  alarming  stretch 
of  confidence  on  my  part,  merely  to  tell  you  whether  youi* '  guesses 
at  tiiith '  have  hit  the  mai-k,  or  flown  wide  of  it.  So  you  have  only 
to  propound  yoiu-  queries,  and  I  will  answer  them  as  clearly  and 
concisely  as  in  me  lies." 

"  C'est  bon  !  "  was  the  reply.  "  A — to  begin  with — I  am  correct 
am  I  not,  in  supposing  that  last  night  my  worthy  friend  Crane 
offered  his  hand  and  ,£20,000  per  annimi  (in  which  latter  item  his 
heart  is  of  course  wrapped  up  and  included)  to  your  amiable  and 
accomplished  sister?"  Hazlehurst  nodded  assent,  and  DAlmayne 
continued, — "  The  young  lady,  however,  or  I  am  much  mistaken, 
gi-eatly  prefers  your  excellent  and  energetic  friend,  Mr.  Coverdale 
(who,  you  must  pardon  me  for  saying,  reminds  me  of  a  well-inten- 
tioned, enthusiastic  bull  in  a  china-shop),  which  preference  the  gentle- 
man returns  to  such  a  degree,  that  I  am  inclined  to  believe  he  has 
told,  or  in  some  other  manner  rendei-ed  the  fair  Alice  aware  of  his 
love.  Her  manner  at  breakfast  this  morning,  was  compounded  of 
such  an  elaborate  endeavour  to  conceal  the  conscious  and  confiding, 
behind  the  most  transparent  eidolon  of  indifference,  that  no  one  at 
all  acquainted  with  woman's  nature  could  doubt  about  the  matter." 

"  Tou  are  indeed  a  close  observer  !  "  exclaimed  Arthur,  surprised 
out  of  his  caution.  "  Coverdale's  attachment  was  a  thing  I  never 
even  suspected  till — a — till  this  morning." 

'■  Mr.  Crane  tells  me,  your  father  is  intensely  anxious  to  purchase 
one  of  his  fai-ms  adjoining  your  estate,  which  he  (Ci'ane)  is  unwilling 
to  part  with,"  resumed  DAlmayne ;  "  thence,  I  imagine,  proceeds 
your  respected  i^rogenitor's  anxiety  to  bring  about  the  match.  To 
finish  the  catalogue  of  my  observations  up  to  the  jpresent  time,  I 
conceive  Mr.  Crane  to  be  now  in  the  act  of  urging  his  suit  to  Mr. 
Hazlehurst,  and  complaining  that '  Miss  Alice '  as  he  calls  her  (he 
always  talks  on  such  subjects  like  an  underbred  greengrocer,  or 
second  footman),  rather  kicked,  than  jumped,  at  him  when  he 
offered  her — ahem — his  income  and  his  affections." 

"  Tour  sumiises  are  so  wonderfully  correct,"  rejoined  Arthur 
(determining  to  make  a  merit  of  necessity,  and  appear  open  with 
one  who  seemed  thus  well  acquainted  with  all  the  family  secrets), 
'■  that  in  telling  you  that  as  soon  as  Mr.  Crane  leaves  the  study,  I 
mean  to  appeal  to  my  father  in  my  fi-iend's  behalf,  I  shall,  probably, 
only  forestall  you  in  ex^Dressing  another  of  your  judicious  anticipa- 
tions." 

"  I  rather  imagined  that  would  be  the  next  move,"  was  the  easy, 
self-satisfied  reply, — "  Mr.  Coverdale,  with  all  his  surprising  fresh- 
ness and  naivete  of  character,  could  scarcely  propose  to  lu-ge  bis 
suit  in  person,  after  having  quarrelled  with  your  father  over  his 
wine  last  night ;  for  which  reason,  by  the  way,  it  requires  no  very 

G 


82  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

s:reat  tact  to  divine  tliat  Mr.  Crane's  proposal  will  find  'favour  in 
Mr.  Hazlehurst's  eyes,  and  Mr.  Coverdale's  be  rejected." 

■'  And  the  remedy  ?  "  inquired  Arthur  eagerly. 

DAlmayne  paused,  then  a  meaning  but  disagreeable  smile 
passed  across  his  handsome  features,  as  he  replied,  "If  I  can 
induce  Mr.  Ci'ane  to  withdraw  his  suit  of  his  own  accord,  yet  con- 
tinue his  amicable  relations  towards  this  family,  and  be  willing  to 
sell  the  farm  to  your  father  at  his  own  price,  and  by  these  means 
lead  Mr.  Hazlehnrst  to  regard  your  friend's  offer  favourably,  shall  I 
be  acting  in  accordance  with  your  wishes  ?  " 

"  Nay,  my  dear  D'Almayne,  if  you  can  indeed  persuade  Mr.  Crane 
to  perform  so  magnanimous  a  part,  I  shall  consider  you  the  best  and 
cleverest  fellow  in  the  world.  As  to  my  wishing  you  to  do  so,  I 
should  as  soon  have  thought  of  wishing  you  to  appoint  me  First 
Lord  of  the  Treasury — one  only  wishes  for  such  things  [as  one,  in 
some  degi'ee,  expects  to  obtain.  But  surely  you  over-calculate  your 
powers  of  persuasion,"  returned  Hazlehurst,  scarcely  knowing 
whether  D'Almayne  might  not  be  amusing  himself  at  his  expense. 

"  I  will  remain  here  and  await  the  result  of  your  inteiwiew  with 
your  father,  and  if  it  terminates  as  I  predict,  I  wiU  attempt  my  little 
bit  of  diplomacy ; — the  result  will  prove  to  you  whether  or  not  I 
overrate  my  Machiavelian  talents,"  was  the  confident  reply — and  so 
they  pai-ted. 

Mr.  Hazlehurst,  senior,  was  by  no  means  in  an  amiable  frame  of 
mind  when  his  son  entered  the  librai-y — the  gout,  considerably  in- 
creased by  the  wine-bibbing  of  the  pre"\"ious  evening,  pervaded  his 
entire  system,  mental  and  bodily;  and  through  the  atrabilious 
medium  of  a  disordered  stomach,  he  looked  back  upon  his  disagree- 
ment with  Coverdale,  till  it  became  magnified  into  a  serious  quaiTcl. 
Mr.  Crane  had  just  informed  him  that,  on  renewing  his  offer  to  Alice 
on  the  previous  evening,  the  young  lady  rauttered  a  few  words, 
incoherent  indeed,  but,  as  he  conceived,  of  a  negative  tendency,  and 
instantly  conveyed  herself  away  without  affording  him  an  oppor- 
tunity of  obtaining  an  explanation.  Whereupon  Mi-.  Hazlehurst, 
waxing  wroth,  declared  she  should  accept  him  that  very  morning  ; 
begged  him  to  retire  until  he  should  have  seen  his  daughter,  and,  as 
he  was  pleased  to  term  it,  brought  her  to  her  senses  ;  and  having  just 
despatched  a  summons  to  the  poor  girl,  was  waiting  her  arrival  to 
perpetrate  an  act  of  parental  tyi-anny,  when  his  son  entered.  The 
consequences  may  readily  be  imagined  : — Coverdale  was  angrily  and 
unceremoniously  refused ;  Alice  anathematized,  excommiinicated, 
and  ordered  magisterially  to  be  imprisoned  in  her  own  room  till 
f ai-ther  notice ;  and  Arthur  severely  reprimanded  for  having  intro- 
duced Coverdale  to  the  family  (which,  be  it  remembered,  he  had 
done  at  his  father's  particular  request),  and  cautioned  against 
venturing  to  countenance  Alice  in  her  disobedience,  or  ever  again  to 
refer  to  the  subject  in  his  (Mr.  Hazlehurst's)  sovereign  presence,  on 
pain  of  being  cut  off  with  the  trifling  patrimony  of  one  shilling 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  83 

sterling.  Arthur  attempted  a  mild  remonstrance,  wliereby  lie 
obtained  a  pai-ticiilar  request  instantly  to  leave  the  room,  and  a 
general  order  in  regard  to  the  entire  altei'ation  of  his  conduct,  and 
abnegation  of  his  present  opinions  on  all  subjects,  human  and  divine. 
Returning  to  the  breakfast-room  in  the  frame  of  mind  naturally 
consequent  upon  such  a  reception,  he  discovered  D'Almayne  com- 
fortably lounging  in  an  easy-chair,  and  perusing  a  handsomely 
bound  copy  of  the  "  Pleasiu'es  of  Memory." 

Glancing  up  as  Hazlehurst  entered,  he  observed  coolly,  '"  I  need 
not  ask  you  how  it  has  gone,  '  uion  ami,'  yoiu"  face  tells  me." 

Hazlehurst  strode  impatiently  up  and  down  the  apartment ;  then 
stopping  short  in  front  of  his  companion,  he  exclaimed  abruptly, 
"  Try  your  plan,  whatever  it  maybe;  for  common  sense  is  thrown 
away  iipon  a  man  so  prejudiced  and  positive  as  my  father  has  shown 
himself  to  be ;  and  common  patience  cannot  bear  the  irritating 
speeches  he  makes,  when  all  the  time  one  feels  that  one  is  striving 
for  the  right,  and  that  he  is  totally  and  entirely  wi'ong." 

"  Tou  are  warm, '  mon  cher,'  "  was  the  calm  reply.  "  Papas  have 
been  wi-ong-headed  time  out  of  mind,  and  will  probably  continue  so 
till  time  shall  have  passed  away,  together  with  all  other  sublunary 
weights  and  measm-es ;  so  why  afflict  yourself  at  the  inevitable  ? 
But  I  will  now  proceed  without  delay  to  try  my  eloquence  upon  the 
dear  rejected  Mr.  Crane— a — by  the  way,  you  must  give  me  one  promise. 
'  On  their  own  merits  modest  men  are  dumb ; '  now  my  modesty 
is  so  outrageously  sensitive,  that  I  am  'not  only  dumb  myself,  but 
require  my  friends  to  be  so  likewise ;  in  plain  English,  if  I  do  this 
thing  to  oblige  you,  you  must  promise  me  to  keep  my  share  in  the 
transaction  a  secret ;  the  change  must  appear  to  emanate  from  the 
united  kind  regards  and  amiable  self-sacrifice  of  your  father  and 
Mr.  Crane."  Seeing  Arthur  hesitate,  he  continued,  "  Withovit  this 
assurance,  you  must  excuse  my  declining  to  interfere." 

"  Be  it  as  you  will  then,"  began  Arthur. 

As  he  spoke  the  door  flew  open,  and  Alice,  eager  and  tearful, 
Inu'ried  in,  exclaiming,  "  You  have  seen  my  father  !  Can  it  be  true 
that  he  is  so  cruel  as  to  refuse  his  consent.  He  has  just  written  me 
such  a  dreadful  note,  ordering  me  not  to  quit  my  room !  " 

Here,  catching  sight  of  D'Almayne,  she  stopped  short  in  confiision 
and  alarm.  That  individual  hastened  to  relieve  her  by  walking  to 
the  door;  but  as  he  passed  Arthur  he  whispered,  "You  may  make 
an  exception  in  your  sister's  favour.  I  absolve  you  from  your  vow 
of  secrecy  as  far  as  she  is  concerned.  I  am  a  tender-hearted  fellow, 
and  beauty  in  tears  is  always  too  many  for  me."  As  he  spoke,  he 
left  the  apartment,  and  closed  the  door  behind  him. 

Alice  heard  Ai'thm-'s  account  of  D'Almayne's  unexijected  access 
of  benevolence  with  surprise ;  but  not  having  witnessed  the  quiet 
confidence  with  which  he  asserted  his  power  of  inliiiencing  Mr. 
Crane,  she  put  but  little  trust  in  his  assurances,  merely  setting  them 
down  as  the  vain  boasting  of  a  conceited  youth,  who  was  actuated  by 


84  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

a  good-natui-ed  desire  to  lielp  them  out  of  their  difficulties.  That 
she  did  him  injustice  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact,  that  hater  in 
the  day  Mr.  Crane  sought  a  second  interview  with  Mr.  Hazlehurst, 
after  which  the  latter  gentleman  summoned  Harry  Coverdale  to  his 
august  presence ;  and  when  that  happy  but  much  confused  young 
man  entered  the  "  sanctum  sanctorum  "  of  the  library,  sent  for  his 
daughter  Alice  likeAvise,  and  having  pronounced  a  strongly 
acidulated,  not  to  say,  crabbed,  benediction  upon  their  youthful 
heads,  dismissed  them  in  time  to  write  by  that  day's  post  to  his  man 
of  business,  to  prepare  the  purchase-money  for  the  Hazlecroft  fai-m, 
then  the  property  of  Jedediah  Crane,  Esq.  The  dinner-party  that 
evening  passed  off  much  more  agreeably  than  the  breakfast  had 
done.  Coverdale  sat  by  his  lady-love,  looking  the  picture,  or  better 
still,  the  reality  of  happiness  ;  but  Arthur  Hazlehurst  wore  a  gloomy 
brow  when  he  perceived  that  his  cousin,  Kate  Marsden,  had  paired 
off  with  the  cotton-spinner,  and  that  they  appeared  mutually  satisfied 
with  the  an-angement. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

TREATS   OF   THINGS   IN   GENERAL. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  Harry  Coverdale  was  of  a  somewhat 
impetuous  disposition.  No  sooner  had  he  obtained  Mr.  Hazlehurst's 
consent  to  the  match,  than  he  commenced  a  system  of  alternate 
petting  and  persecution,  whereby  he  contrived  to  render  the  lives  of 
Alice  and  her  mother  scarcely  endurable,  until  he  had  induced  them 
to  fix  an  early  day  for  his  "  execution,"  as  Tom  irreverently  para- 
pkrased  the  solemnization  of  the  marriage  ceremony.  This  object 
happily  accomplished,  a  journey  to  London  was  proposed,  whereat 
Mr.  Hazlehurst  looked  very  black ;  but  when  Alice  seated  herself  on 
his  knee,  and,  stroking  his  bald  head,  called  him  a  dear,  good,  kind, 
papa  (on  speculation,  i)robably,  for  at  that  moment  he  did  not  in  the 
slightest  degree  look  the  character),  his  heart  softened,  and  he  con- 
sented to  the  plan.  Then  somebody  told  Arthur  of  a  wonderful 
doctor,  who  had  found  out  a  new  system  of  curing  everything,  and 
especially  complaints  analogous  to  that  under  which  Mrs.  Hazlehui'st 
laboured;  accordingly,  he  determined  his  mother  should  form  one 
of  the  London  party,  and  consult  this  fashionable  fee-taker ;  and 
when  Ai'thur  had  determined  on  a  thing,  it  generally  came  to  pass. 
Therefore,  after  considerable  pro-ing  and  con-ing,  and  macadamizing 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT        85 

of  difficulties,  the  matter  was  finally  arranged  by  Mrs.  Hazlehui-st, 
her  son,  and  her  two  daughters,  taking  np  their  abode  at  Cherry's 
Hotel,  in  Jermyn  Street,  while  Coverdale  established  himself  in  his 
old  quaiiers  at  the  Tavistock,  in  Covent  Garden. 

Then  they  began  to  be  overwhelmed  with  business.  First,  the 
infallible  doctor  was  to  be  consiilted ;  so  poor  Mrs.  Hazlehnrst  was 
dragged  ont  of  bed  some  three  honrs  sooner  than  usual,  breakfasted 
in  a  nervous  tremor,  which  rendered  the  ceremony  a  most  unreal 
mockery,  was  transported  from  her  carriage  to  a  stately  dining-room, 
where  some  twenty  fellow-victims  were  already  incarcerated,  whence 
(having  waited  two  hours,  because,  in  her  ignorance  of  London 
rascalities,  she  had  omitted  to  fee  the  noble  creatiire  in  plush  and 
powder  who  had  admitted  her)  she  was  at  length  (his  nobleness  not 
being  able  longer  to  exclude  her)  ushered  into  the  presence  of  the 
potentate  of  pills  himself.  This  erudite  individual  was  a  short,  stiff 
man,  with  a  short,  stiff  appearance — the  result  of  the  most  severe 
application  of  starch  and  hair-brushes, — and  a  short,  stiff  manner, 
assumed,  as  are  the  stare  and  swagger  of  Van  [Amburg  and  other 
tiger-tamers,  for  the  ]3urpose  of  browbeating  and  mentally  subduing 
refractory  or  sceptical  patients.  Seeing  at  a  glance,  however,  that 
poor  Mrs.  Hazlehm'st  was  already  subdued,  he  obligingly  let  off  a 
little  superfluous  starch,  slightly  disarranged  his  hair,  smiled,  to 
show  a  fine  set  of  false  teeth,  put  in  at  trade-price  by  a  fi-iendly 
dentist,  and  having  thus  brought  himself  somewhat  nearer  the  limp- 
ness of  average  humanity,  added  (as  he  would  have  probably 
expressed  it)  a  couple  of  drachms  '"  syrupi  saccarinis  "  to  his  manner, 
ere  he  proceeded  to  catechize  his  patient  as  to  her  symptoms,  and 
the  remedies  that  had  been  applied  to  remove  them.  To  each  fact 
thus  elicited,  he  replied  by  frowning  ]3ortentously,  screwing  round 
liis  mouth,  and  muttering,  "I  knew  it,"'  in  a  gloomy  and  mysterious 
manner,  as  though  he  had  acquired  the  knowledge  by  some  awful 
and  supernatviral  coiirse  of  study  ;  and,  indeed,  as  Mrs.  Hazlehurst's 
confessions  involved  her  having  had  a  dangerous  fall  from  her  horse 
at  a  period  when  he.  the  doctor,  must  have  been  about  five  years  old, 
and  that  she  had  been  laid  up  with  a  bilious  fever  exactly  two 
calendar  months  and  four  days  before  he  was  born,  he  can  scarcely 
be  supposed  to  have  come  by  his  information  honestly  and  lawfully. 
In  fact,  to  a  logical  mind,  the  question  resolved  itself  into  the 
following  hypothesis — that  he  must  either  be  a  ti-ue  prophet,  or  a 
lying  doctor. 

Having  elicited  all  the  facts  he  cared  to  learn  (which,  if  he  knew 
them  before,  he  might  as  well  have  saved  himself  the  trouble  of 
doing),  he  drew  himself  up  to  his  extreme  altitude, — which  was 
nothing  very  tremendous  after  all, — got  his  starch  up  to  high- 
pressure  pitch,  judiciously  tempering  its  stiffness  with  soothing 
syrup,  and  delivered  himself  of  the  following  opinion : — 

"  Madam,  you  have  told  me  nothing  that,  the  moment  I  beheld  you, 
I  was  not  prepared  to  hear.    I  do  not  in  the  slightest  degree  impugn 


86  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

tlie  judgrnent  and  skill  of  Mr.  Smitliers "  (the  Hazlehurst  general 
practitioner),  "but  tlie  instant  I  glanced  at  his  first  prescription  I 
saw  he  had  taken  a  -vvi-ong  view  o£  our  case.  Superacetate  of 
Euroclydon  and  bi-carbonate  of  Hydrocephalus  would  never  remove 
the  pain  and  pali^itation  on  our  right  side — " 

"  The  left  is  the  side  on  which  I  usually  feel  the  pain,"  began  Mrs. 
Hazlehurst  mildly. 

"  Eh !  left — yes,  of  course ;  I  said  left,  didn't  I  ?  I  believe  I 
observed  to  you  before,  madam,  that  the  moment  I  set  eyes  on  you 
I  became  aware  of — in  fact.  I  felt  (if  I  may  so  express  myseK)  that 
pain  and  laalpitation  on  our  left  side  ;  and  I  said  to  myself,  if  that 
very  talented  practitioner,  Mr.  Smithers,  has  administered  Super- 
acetate  of  Euroclydon,  and  bi-carbonate  of  Hydrocephalus  to  that 
pain  of  ours — with  the  highest  respect  for  Smithers  (he  was  walking" 
St.  Bartholomew's  when  I  was  dresser  to  the  late  celebrated  and 
lamented  Flayflesh),  I  must  say  he  has  mistaken  our  case.  Now,  I 
shall  just — I  make  no  secret  of  my  practice — I  shall  just  throw  in 
three  gi-ains  of  extr.  Borealis  Aurorse,  with  equal  propoi'tions  of 
Astri  caninis,  Geminorum  siamesiae,  and  sesqui-carbonate  (mind 
that)  sesqiai-carbonate  of  Pantapolion,  and  oiu'  pain  will  lapse  (as 
Byron  so  beautifully  expresses  it)  into  '  a  happy  memory  of  the  past.' 
You  will  take  the  mixture  six  times  in  the  twenty-four  hours,  and 
the  pills  immediately  before  dinner.  With  regard  to  diet,  everything 
you  have  been  accustomed  to  eat  is  wrong ;  your  appetite  is  weak, 
and  yoti  like  delicacies,  as  they  are  called,  better  than  substantial 
joints,  I  dare  say  ?  " 

Mrs.  Hazlehurst  acknowledged  that  his  penetration  had  not  failed 
him  ;  and  he  resumed  sharply, — 

"  Madam,  we  musn't  touch  them  !  they  are  poison  in  such  a  case 
as  ours.  No  ;  we  must  restrict  ourselves  to  plain  beef  and  mutton, 
very  much  underdone ;  stale  bi'ead,  no  vegetables,  no  fruit,  no  nice 
things,  very  bitter  beer,  with  plenty  of  the  camomile  in  it  (that's  the 
brewer's  secret,  strychnine's  all  a  delusion),  and  stick  to  the  sesqui- 
carbonate  of  Pantapolion,  and  we  shall  be  a  different  woman  in  a 
short  time.  Let  me  see  you  again  on  Friday.  Good  morning.  And 
so,  pocketing  his  guinea  with  less  respect  than  many  men  pay 
to  a  fourpenny-piece,  the  fashional)le  quack  allowed  his  -victim  to 
escape. 

Then  there  was  shopping.  There  are  a  good  many  shops  in  Regent 
Street,  and  those  that  are  not  there  are  in  Bond  Street,  at  least  a 
fair  sprinkling  of  them ;  but  Harry  solemnly  declared  (after  his 
marriage)  that  during  the  fortnight  the  party  were  in  London,  they 
went  into  them  all,  and  every  man  knows  what  that  involves.  Give 
a  woman  her  head,  so  far  as  to  allow  her  to  put  it  into  a  shop,  and 
he  must  indeed  be  a  clever  fellow  who  can  coax  or  coerce  her  out  of 
it  under  half  an  hour.  But  Harry  was  in  love,  and  love  is  blind 
(though  it  has  an  awkward  trick  of  recovering  its  eyesight  after 
marriage,  and  making  up  for  lost  time,  by  spying  out  all  kinds  of 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT        87 

things  to  wliicli  it  had  far  better  liad  remained  blind) ;  besides,  Alice 
was  not  more  "  exigeante  "  than  a  lovei  generally  desires  his  mistresa 
should  be :  too  much  independence  of  character  in  a  young  girl  being 
by  no  means  an  attractive  quality. 

Then  there  was  a  good  deal  of  sight-seeing  to  be  got  through. 
Emily  had  never  been  in  London  before,  and  Alice  only  once  for  a 
week.  So  they  "  did "  "Westminster  Abbey,  which,  they  really 
enjoyed ;  and  St.  Paul's,  which  they  pretended  to  admire,  and  didn't : 
and  the  Tower,  where  Emily  called  the  figures  in  the  horse-annoury 
a  set  of  qiiizzical  old  things ;  and  the  Polytechnic,  where  they  saw 
a  man  go  down  in  a  diving-bell,  to  pick  up  nothing  at  the  bottom  of 
a  large  wash-hand-basin,  and  come  up  again  half  suffocated,  which 
they  considered  curious  and  highly  satisfactory,  as  no  doubt  it  was 
to  everybody  but  that  unfortunate  martyr  to  popular  science  himself, 
who  (taking  the  most  cheerful  view  of  his  amphibious  occupation) 
can  scarcely  be  i-egarded  in  the  light  of  a  jolly  young  watemian. 
Then  they  went  to  the  National  Gallery  to  see  the  pictures,  which, 
as  it  was  not  an  unusually  bright  and  clear  day,  of  course  they  were 
unable  to  do  ;  but  they  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  building  itself, 
and  the  fountains  in  Trafalgar  Square,  which  they  all  agreed  they 
had  never  beheld  anything  like  before ;  and  Han-y  added,  that  in  his 
travels  he  had  not  met  with  anything  to  equal  the  whole  affair  in  its 
peculiar  style,  and  that  he  thought  foreigners  must  be  very  strongly 
impressed  by  it,  and  that  it  must  at  once  give  them  a  clear  idea  of 
English  taste ;  which  remarks  it  was  a  pity  the  architect  was  not 
there  to  hear,  as  they  might  possibly  have  been  of  use  to  him.  Emily 
had  never  beheld  a  play,  so  they  went  to  the  I-see-um  Theatre,  where 
they  witnessed  the  performance  of  a  veiy  long  melodrama,  adapted 
from  the  French  (that  is,  all  that  was  national  and  peculiar — without 
which  the  plot  became  a  mere  silly  tissue  of  improbable  events  and 
impossible  situations — omitted,  and  the  place  supplied  by  worn-out 
and  conventional  clap-traps).  This  " piece  de  resistance,"  which  was 
to  last  the  play-going  public  for  some  foiu*  or  six  months,  according 
to  the  degree  in  which  it  suited  their  appetites,  was  so  well  put  on 
the  stage,  and  so  well  acted,  that  the  false  sentiment  and  worse 
morality  which  pervaded  it  were  for  the  'time  forgotten,  and  it  was 
not  till  Arthur  called  his  attention  to  the  fact,  that  Harry  recollected 
this  un-English  jumble  of  crimes  and  follies,  was  played  night  after 
night  to  crowded  houses,  while  the  masterpieces  of  Shakspere,  the 
greatest  dramatist  who  ever  lived,  were  banished  to  an  obscure 
theatre  in  the  outskirts  of  London,  or  wei-e  forced  to  be  translated 
into  a  foreign  language,  and  acted  by  a  foreign  company,  ere  the 
"  ears  polite  "  of  London  fashionables  could  be  persuaded  to  listen  to 
them.  The  two  young  men  argued  the  question  in  all  its  bearings, 
and  arrived  at  this  conclusion,  viz.  either  that  if  Shakspere  were 
better  acted  it  would  be  better  attended,  or  that  if  Shakspere  were 
better  attended,  better  actors  would  soon  be  found  to  perforai  the 
chaa'acters ;  though  which  of  these  statements  might  be  regarded  as 


88  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

the  cause,  and  wliicli  as  the  effect,  they  could  by  no  means  agree. 
And  by  that  time,  the  play  being  concluded,  Emily  declared  that  it 
was  quite  perfect,  really  charming ;  and  that,  as  to  Shakspere,  he 
was  an  obsolete  old  slow-coach,  and  very  wicked  too — or  else,  why 
did  they  want  a  family  edition  of  him  ?  Whereas,  if  there  had  ever 
been  any  harm  in  this  play,  which  she  did  not  believe  could  have 
been  the  case,  dear  Mr.  Kingsby  Florence  had  translated  it  so 
beavitifully  that  it  might  have  been  acted  anywhere — in  a  church 
almost.  Then  she  turned  and  appealed  to  her  sister,  to  support  her 
in  her  girlish  and  unorthodox  enthusiasm. 

Alice  replied  gravely,  and  with  a  pseudo-matronly  air  which  was 
highly  amusing,  that  although  she  miist  confess  she  had  been 
interested  and  entertained  by  the  play  she  had  just  witnessed,  yet 
that  she  had  listened  to  Arthur's  argument  with  Mr.  Coverdale,  and 
quite  agreed  in  the  view  taken  by  the  latter  gentleman ;  for  which 
sympathy  of  opinion  Harry  possessed  himself  of  the  lovely 
sympathizer's  hand,  and  pressed  it  gratefully ;  while  he  inwardly 
thanked  heaven  for  having  bestowed  upon  his  future  wife  such  a 
correct  taste  and  sound  understanding.  And  so,  between  doctoring, 
and  shopping,  and  sight-seeing,  and  hurrying  dressmakers,  and 
tailors,  and  coach-builders,  and  a  host  of  minor  tradesmen,  all  the 
wedding  paraphernalia  were  purchased,  a  vast  amount  of  business 
transacted,  settlements  prepared,  and  money  spent ;  and  a  fortnight 
passed  away  so  quickly,  that  it  appeared  like  two  or  three  days  to 
the  actors  in  the  genteel  comedy  thiis  performed. 

Then  they  all  returned  to  the  country,  Han-y  going  to  the  Park 
to  make  arrangements  for  the  incoming  of  ho  use- decorators  and  fur- 
nishers innumerable,  who  were  to  put  to  the  rout  all  the  old  admiral's 
bachelor  abominations,  and  prepare  the  mansion  for  the  reception  of 
its  fair  mistress.  That  auaiable  young  lady  was  beginning  to  find, 
by  experience,  that  to  be  "  going  to  be  married  "  is  very  hard  work 
indeed,  the  wear  and  tear  of  the  feelings  being  a  marked  and  alarm- 
ing feature  in  the  case.  Thus,  whenever  Harry  was  away  for  a  day, 
she  found  herself  anxious,  low-spirited,  and  a  prey  to  innumerable 
misgivings  lest  evil  should  befall  him.  On  one  evening  in  particular, 
when  he  returned  full  twenty  minutes  later  than  he  should  have 
done,  she  felt  so  convinced  that  "  dreadful  trotting-mare  "  had  by 
some  means  compassed  his  destruction,  that  she  received  him  with 
a  gentle  shower  of  tears,  which  of  course  he  kissed  away,  as  he 
whispered  that  very  soon  she  would  be  his  dear  little  wife,  and  then 
nothing  should  part  them  even  for  an  hour ;  and  Alice  smiled  through 
her  tears  as  she  thought  how,  with  every  taste  and  feeling  in  common, 
they  should  trip  gaily  along  the  pathway  of  life,  hand  in  hand,  like  a 
conjugal  couple  of  Siamese  twins.  Dreams!  pretty  Alice,  dreams ! 
which  many  a  young  girl's  loving  heart  has  framed  ere  this,  only  to 
awaken  to  a  far  different  reality,  and  weep  over  the  depai-ture  of 
such  bright  illusions. 
But  there  was  not  much  time  for  di'eaming  or  romance  at  the 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  89 

Grangre,  for  the  "  fatal  day  "  came  nearer  and  nearer  witli  alarming 
velocity,  until  at  last  it  actually  arrived ;  and  everybody  was  in  such 
a  state  of  excitement,  that  an  uninitiated  spectator  might  have 
imagined  the  whole  household,  instead  of  merely  one  member  of  it,  was 
going  to  be  married.  As  every  one  expected  a  most  fatiguing  day, 
of  course  no  one  slept  a  wink  during  the  previous  night ;  and  as  the 
match  was  in  every  way  most  desirable,  and  Alice  enjoyed  as  fair  a 
prospect  of  happiness  as  those  who  loved  her  best  could  wish  her,  of 
course  all  the  women,  the  moment  it  was  light,  indulged  in  the 
feminine  luxury  of  "  a  hearty  cry  " ;  after  which  libation  to  sensibility, 
they  set  to  woi'k  in  real  earnest  to  dress  themselves  and  each  other 
as  becomingly  as  they  possibly  could.  On  the  bride's  dressing-table 
was  found  a  set  of  pearl  ornaments,  supposed  by  the  learned  in  such 
matters  to  have  cost  at  least  ^£500,  together  with  a  slip  of  paper, 
representing  Mr.  Crane's  best  Avishes  for  her  happiness  ;  which  piece  of 
generosity  Alice  thoiight  very  amiable  and  pretty  of  him,  as  indeed 
it  was.  Kate  (wearing  a  splendid  bracelet,  giver  unknown)  and 
Emily  were  to  be  bridesmaids,  and  four  of  the  prettiest  bosom 
friends  the  bride  possessed  made  up  the  team.  These  six  susceptible 
young  creatures  turned  out  in  light  blue,  and  very  nice  they  looked, 
only  (as  Master  Tom,  reprieved  for  a  week  from  Eton  in  order  to  be 
present  at  the  ceremony,  observed)  they  did  not  step  well  together — 
a  deficiency  for  which  he  accounted  by  remarking  that  his  cousin 
Kate  carried  her  head  so  high,  without  a  bearing  rein,  and  had  such 
grand  action,  that  it  naturally  made  the  other  girls  look  rather 
screwy  ;  and  indeed  Master  Tom's  descriptive  powers  so  far  exceed 
our  ovra,  that  we  shall  violate  confidence  by  availing  ourselves  of  a 
letter  he  despatched  the  next  morning  to  one  of  his  friends  at  Eton 
in  which  he  gave  his  own  impressions  of  the  eventful  day.  It  ran 
as  follows : — 

"  Dear  Tipsbt, — If  this  blessed  hot  weather  does  not  make 
dripping  of  a  fellow  prematurely,  you  will  have  an  opportunity  of 
weeping  on  the  affectionate  bussim  of  '  Yoiirs,  truly,'  by  the  5  p.m. 
train  on  Monday  next.  The  cause  of  my  shirking  a  week  is  not,  as 
you  impertinently  insinuate,  my  having  '  over-goosebeiTied  myself,' 
but  the  no  less  alarming  fact  that  my  eldest  sister  has  been  and  gone 
and  committed  matrimony,  and  I  have  waited  to  see  her  tiu-ned  off. 
The  '  shocking  event '  arrived  at  a  climax  (that's  grammar,  ain't  it  ?) 
yesterday.  I  rose  with  the  lark  (i.e.  Arthur,  my  big  brother,  came  and 
dragged  me  out  of  bed  at  seven  o'clock),  and  dressed  myself.  Yes, 
I  should  think  I  did — rather  !  Kerseymere  sit-upons,  made  precious 
loose  in  the  leg,  and  with  a  large  pink  check  on  a  lavender  ground — 
stunnin !  satin  vest,  colours  to  sympathize  ;  silk  necktie,  pink  gi-ound, 
lavender  jDattem,  once  round— ends  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  yard  long, 
and  such  a  bow ! — there's  high  art  for  you,  my  boy  ! — and  last,  not 
least,  real  Oxford  bang-tail  coatee  (none  of  your  blackguard  boys' 
jackets),  bright  blue,  with  only  two  buttons  and  buttonholes  about 
it,  and  all  sorts  of  jolly  pockets  in  original  places ;  but,  don't  fret. 


90  HARRY  CO  VERB  ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

you  shall  see  it.  Well,  to  return  to  our  mutton,  as  the  French  say  : 
very  few  showed  at  early  breakfast,  sensibilities  superseding'  appetites 
in  a  general  way,  though  I  can't  say  I  perceived  much  difference  as 
regarded  number  one  :  yet,  when  I  come  to  think  of  it,  I  recollect  I 
only  eat  three  eggs ;  but  then  the  ham  was  a  real  brick.  Nothing 
particular  occurred  till  we  were  to  go  to  church ;  but  when  the  traps 
came  round,  you  may  fancy  there  was  something  to  look  at.  My 
brother-in-law,  Coverdale— oh.  Tips,  he  really  is  a  fine  fellow,  as 
handsome  as  fun^cau  ride  anything  you  like  to  put  him  across — a 
dead  shot — A  1  with  his  fists  ('gad,  I  should  be  sorry  to  get  even  a 
left-hander  from  him),  and  as  good-tempered  and  jolly  as  a  cock; 
but  you  shall  see  him  some  day :  well,  he  came  up  with  his  own 
horses,  a  pair  of  blood  bays,  he  gave  ^350  for  'em,  and  they're  dii-t 
cheap  at  the  money;  he  is  a  first-rate  judge  of  a  horse  :  but  I'll  tell 
you  all  about  the  traps  when  we  meet.  Then  down  came  the  girls; 
Ally  (that's  my  eldest  sister)  was  smothered  with  veils,  and  flounces, 
and  pearls,  and  that  sort  of  nonsense  ;  and  looked  precious  pale  and 
interesting,  and  like  to  blub;  so  we  bundled  her  into  the  family- 
coach,  and  Coverdale  jumped  into  his  own  trap,  and  away  we  all 
scuttled  to  church.  We've  got  a  good,  sharp  parson,  that  can  go  the 
pace  slap  up  when  he  likes  ;  and,  knowing  that  the  chami)agne  was 
waiting  for  him,  he  put  the  harness  on  'em  in  no  time;  and  the 
women  did  the  water-cart  business  in  style — where  all  their  tears 
came  from  I  can't  think — but  they  laid  the  diTst  beautifully. 
Then  there  was  signing  names  in  the  vestry,  and  a  lot  of  chaff  about 
kissing  the  bride,  which  so  upset  that  muff.  Lambkin,  the  parson's 
apprentice  (curate,  I  suppose,  is  what  they  call  the  chap),  that  he 
fairly  turned  tail  and  bolted.  Next,  we  all  bundled  home  again; 
Ally  in  Coverdale's  trap  this  time  (and  precious  handsome  he  looked, 
as  he  handed  her  in,  I  can  tell  you)  ;  and  then  came  the  '  crowning 
mercy  '  (as  Lambkin  said  in  his  sermon  last  Sunday),  the  wedding 
breakfast.  The  governor  had  done  the  thing  well  for  once  in  his 
life,  I  will  say  that  for  the  old  boy.  There  were  all  the  delicacies  of 
all  the  four  seasons  (one  only  Avished  one  had  four  stomachs,  like  a 
camel,  to  pay  them  i^roper  attention :  though  I  didn't  do  badly,  in 
spite  of  my  mono-stomachic  conformation).  Then  the  champagne; 
— my  dear  Tips,  I  am  not  iising  a  mere  figure  of  rhetoi-ic  when  I  say 
the  supply  was  unlimited ; — how  much  I  drank  I  literally  cannot 
tell,  but,  in  mentioning  the  affair  to  inquiring  friends,  you  had 
better  restrict  your  statement  to  half-a-dozen  bottles — as  a  general 
rule,  a  gentleman  should  not  take  more  on  such  occasions — it  is  not 
every  man  who  possesses  my  strength  of  head  and  self-control.  I 
sat  next  to  one  of  the  bridesmaids, — 

"  '  A  little,  laughing  fairy  thing, 
Just  like  an  angel  on  the  wing  ; ' 
A  rosebud  'neath  the  moon's  pale  ring 
A  playful  zephyr,  whispering 
Some  secret  to  the  early  Si)ring. 

As  Tennyson    has  it— stunning    poet,    Tennyson !      At    first    my 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAIVIE  OF  IT  91 

modesty  prevented  my  fretting  on  witli  lier  quite  as  fast  as  I 
could  have  wished ;  in  fact,  till  after  my  foiu-th  glass  of  champagne, 
I  had  not  gone  beyond  asking  if  she  liked  roast  chicken,  and  saying 
'  Bless  yon,'  when  she  sneezed ;  which  I  have  since  thought  might 
not  be  quite  etiquette,  for  she  certainly  looked  surprised.  However, 
'  in  vino  jollitas,'  as  Cicero  says  ;  after  imbibing  the  '  rosy,'  I  went 
ahead  like  beans,  and  I  flatter  myself — ahem!— made  a  very  con- 
siderable impression ;  but  then  recollect  the  expense  with  which  I 
was  got  up  !  the  woman  who  could  look  on  that  bang-tail  coatee  with 
indifference  must  be  a  heartless  tigi-ess.  At  all  events,  Juliana 
Georgina  (sweet,  poetical  name !  ain't  it,  Tips  P)  didn't ;  and  if  my 
mother  invites  her  here  dm-ing  the  Christmas  holidays — which, 
betwixt  you  and  me  and  the  post,  is  not  impossible — I  should  not  be 
surprised  if  the  affair  were  to  assume  quite  a  serious  complexion.  It 
is  some  time  since  I  have  experienced  what  the  mounseers  call  a 
'  grande  passion.'  When  the  pai-ty  generally  had  pitched  into  the 
gi-ub,  till  the  powers  of  nature  were  forced  to  ci-y  'Hold,  enough  !' 
(though,  for  my  part,  I  don't  think  one's  bread-basket  does  by  any 
means  hold  enough  on  such  occasions)  everybody  drank  everybody's 
health,  and  everyl^ody  returned  thanks.  My  brother-in-law.  Cover- 
dale,  made  a  stunning  speech,  the  best  that  was  made,  by  long  odds ; 
though  Master  Arthur  didn't  disgrace  his  profession  in  the  jawing 
line  either.  The  governor  did  the  ])athetic  and  paternal ;  but  it  was 
precious  slow,  and  all  his  jokes  old  ones.  Mr.  Crane  (he's  a  rich  old 
buffer  that  was  nibbling  after  Ally,  but  it  wasn't  likely  she'd  have 
anything  to  say  to  him  when  she'd  a  chance  of  taking  such  a  trump- 
card  as  my  brother-in-law,  Coverdale,  into  her  hand)  followed  in  the 
benevolent  and  philanthropic  line  ;  but  he  made  a  regular  mull  of  it, 
worse  than  the  daddy  ;  and  when  they'd  done  making  fools  of  them- 
selves, the  sitting  broke  up,  and  my  brother-in-law  and  Alice  started 
for  the  Continent.  And  the  last  thing  before  they  were  off.  Cover- 
dale,  while  he  was  waiting  in  the  hall  for  his  wife  (women  are  always 
too  late  for  everything) ,  tipped  me  a  flimsy  to  the  time  of  ten  pounds, 
and  told  me  not  to  forget  I  was  to  come  to  the  Park  in  the  hunting- 
season,  and  he'd  take  care  to  find  me  a  good  mount ;  but  if  ever 
there  was  a  real  brick,  my  brother-in-law  Coverdale  is  the  identical 
article,  and  no  mistake.  And  that  this  is  a  full,  true,  and  pai-ticular 
account  of  this  wonderful  wedding,  sayeth  and  attesteth, 

"  Tours,  in  the  bonds  of  jollity, 

"Tom  Hazlehurst." 

"  P.S. — Advice  to  cricketers  !  Mind  your  batting,  old  fellow ;  for 
I've  been  put  up  to  some  first-rate  bowling  dodges  by  my  brother-in- 
law,  Coverdale  (he's  one  of  the  top-sawyers  at  Lord's),  that  will  send 
your  stumps  flying  about  your  ears,  if  you  don't  mind  your  eye. 
Yerbum  sat.  slow-coachici !  " 


92  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 


CHAPTER  XYII. 

PLOTTING  AND   COUNTER-PLOTTING. 

The  same  post-bag  in  whicli  Tom  Hazlelmrst  despatched  liis  letter 
to  liis  schoolfellow,  conveyed  also  two  other  epistles  written  by 
inmates  of  the  Grange.  For  the  reader's  benefit  we  will  take  the 
same  liberty  with  them,  which  we  have  already  taken  with  the 
Etonian's  literary  effusion.  The  first  was  from  Kate  Marsden  to 
Miss  Arabella  Crofton,  a  lady  some  three  or  fom*  years  older  than 
herself,  who  had  been  one  of  the  teachers  at  the  school  at  which 
Kate  had  been  brought  up,  and  was  now  governess  in  a  German 
family.  Miss  Crofton  was  a  woman  of  unusual  mental  ability,  and 
having  in  a  great  degree  moulded  Kate's  character,  was  now  her  sole 
confidante  and  mentor.    It  ran  thus  : — 

"  Dear  Arabella, — Since  I  finally  determined  on  following 
your  advice,  fate  seems  to  have  played  my  game  for  me,  and  I  now 
consider  it  as  secure  as  anything  which  has  not  actually  come  to  pass 
can  be.  I  told  jo\i,  when  I  wrote  to  yon  at  Baden-Baden,  that  his 
friend,  Mr.  Coverdale,  and  my  cousin  Alice,  were  evidently  becoming 
attached  ;  you  will,  therefore,  be  the  less  surprised  to  hear  that  they 
were  man'ied  yesterday ;  the  matter  came  about  thus : — Soon  after  I 
wrote  to  you,  Mr,  Crane,  by  my  advice,  offered ;  Alice  of  course 
refused  him,  but  so  equivocally  (she  is  quite  a  child  in  such  things) 
that  the  poor,  dear,  dull  creature  scarcely  caught  her  meaning.  I 
immediately  took  him  in  hand,  and,  availing  myself  of  the  situation, 
flattered  his  vanity  to  such  a  degree,  that  ere  the  evening  finished  he 
believed  not  only  that  Alice  would  accept  him,  but  that  I,  Kate 
Marsden,  was  hopelessly  in  love  with  him.  Accordingly,  when  he 
learned  unmistakably  next  morning  that  Alice  meant  to  refuse  him, 
my  good  taste  stood  out  in  very  favourable  contrast.  In  the  mean- 
time, Mr.  Crane's  offer  brought  Mr.  Coverdale  to  the  point,  and 
Alice  gladly  accepted  him,  in  doing  which  she  acted  wisely,  for  he  is 
a  good,  amiable,  sterling  man  !  and  when  the  romance  has  worn  off, 
and  they  have  got  over  the  bore  of  awakening  from  '  Love's  yoimg 
di'eam,'  I  believe  they  will  settle  down  into  a  very  happy  couple.  My 
uncle  at  first  refused  his  consent,  for  Coverdale  has  only  five,  instead 
of  twenty  thousands  a  year  ;  and  Mr.  Crane  sulked  in  a  comer  ;  but 
that  strange  Mr.  D'AImayne,  about  whom  I  told  you  before,  and  who 
possesses  a  degi'ee  of  influence  over  Mr.  Crane  of  which  I  by  no  means 
approve,  went  to  him,  and  persuaded  him  not  only  to  give  up  Alice 
good-humoiiredly,  but  actually  to  play  a  generous  part,  and  talk  my 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  93 

uncle  over  to  give  his  consent  to  my  cousin's  union  with  Mr.  Cover- 
dale.  Thus,  you  see,  as  I  began  by  saying,  my  game  was  played  for 
me,  and  I  had  only  to  sit  still  and  avail  myself  of  the  moves  as  the 
others  made  them . 

"  I  am  miich  puzzled  by  this  Mr.  D'Almayne.  He  is,  unless  I  am 
much  deceived,  a  complete  adventurer,  scheming  for  his  own  advan- 
tage (I  ought  to  be  able  to  recognize  such  a  character)  ;  but  what 
his  object  can  have  been  in  this  affair  I  cannot  jDossibly  conjecture. 
Pure  philanthropy  had  nothing  to  do  with  it,  of  that  I  am  certain. 
Again,  how  he  contrived  to  influence  Mr.  Crane  to  behave  so  amiably 
I  cannot  conceive.  Sometimes  I  fancy  he  has  divined  my  intention 
of  mai-rying  the  millionaire ;  but  if  so,  why  should  he  aid  me  in  my 
project  ? — for  I  know  by  his  manner  (although  he  is  very  cautious) 
that  he  admires  me  himself.  Certain  it  is,  that  since  the  conversa- 
tion I  have  alluded  to,  Mr.  Crane  has  been  at  my  feet,  and  is  only 
waiting  to  offer  till  he  imagines  time  enough  shall  have  elapsed  to 
prevent  the  transfer  of  his  affections  (?)  from  Alice  to  me  appearing 
too  ridiculous.  However,  the  affair  will  unravel  itself  some  day. 
And  now  that  my  plans  are  likely  to  be  crowned  with  success,  you 
will  ask  me  how  I  feel  on  the  subject.  Determined  as  ever !  that 
which  I  have  begun  I  will  carry  through  ;  but,  Arabella,  I  am  most 
miserable !  For  myself  alone  I  should  not  care ;  to  rescue  my  family 
from  poverty,  I  should  be  happy  to  sacrifice  my  personal  hopes  and 
wishes ;  but  to  see  Arthur  suffer  is  indeed  bitterness,  and  tbat  he 
does  suffer  frightfully,  I,  who  can  read  his  every  look  and  gesture, 
cannot  for  a  moment  doubt.  Oh,  that  I  had  known  the  depth  and 
reality  of  his  affection  sooner,  or  that  the  necessity  were  less  cogent ! 
Then  he  bears  it  with  such  manly  endurance!  his  manner  to  his 
family  is  exactly  the  same  as  i;sual ;  not  one  of  them  suspects  that 
anything  has  occurred  to  pain  him.  Again,  it  is  such  an  aggrava- 
tion of  my  sorrow  that  he  blames  me  so  deeply  !  Sometimes,  when  I 
am  talking  to  Mr.  Crane,  I  catch  his  stem,  penetrating  glance  fixed 
upon  me  -svith  a  calm  earnestness  of  rebuke,  which  affects  me  more 
deeply  than  covild  the  most  vehement  reproaches ;  and  when  I  have 
acted  my  part  for  the  day,  and,  in  the  solitude  of  my  chamber,  I 
recall  all  that  has  passed  between  us,  and  reflect  that  it  is  I  who  have 
brought  this  sorrow  upon  him — I  who  even  now  feel  that  I  love  him 
better  than  my  own  soul — I  who  woidd  gladly  have  died  for  him,  I 
sit,  night  by  night,  like  a  cold  statue  of  despair,  or  lie  sleepless, 
shedding  such  tears  as  I  trust  God's  mercy  permits  not  to  flow  quite 
in  vain !  Tet  it  is  my  duty — you  know,  you  cannot  doubt  for  a 
moment,  it  is  my  duty — you  could  never  have  dared  to  counsel  such 
a  sacrifice  of  the  only  thing  which  can  make  the  biu'den  of  life  en- 
durable, a  real,  deep,  trae  affection,  if  you  had  not  felt  certain  it  was 
my  duty. 

'■  You  have  set  me  a  ci'uel  task,  Arabella,  but  I  do  not  flinch  from 
it;  you  shall  find  your  pupil  worthy  the  trouble  you  have  bestowed 
upon  her.    I  shall  write  again  when  anything  conclusive  is  settled. 


94  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

If  all  .?oes  well.  I  shall  be  in  a  position  to  fulfil  my  old  promise,  and 
offer  you  a  Lome  on  yonr  return  to  England.  Would  to  God  it  were 
likely  to  be  a  happier,  though  a  humbler  one  !    But  that  is  past  now. 

Farewell. 

"  Yoiu's,  in  many  senses  of  the  word. 

"  Kate  Maksden." 

The  third  epistle  was  from  Horace  D'Almayne  to  a  friend  and  ally 
in  Paris.    We  transcribe  it  verbatim  :— 

"  Alphonse.  mon  CHER, — I  enclose  you  a  draft  for  3000  francs, 
wherewith  I  beg  you  to  satisfy  CaiTcau,  the  tailor  '  et  tous  les 
autres  brigands,'  who  render  Paris  an  unsafe  residence  for  me. 
Ton  will  naturally  ask  how  I  have  obtained  the  money ;  not  at 
the  gaming-table,  nor  on  the  highway,  like  Claud  Duval.  Rail- 
roads and  police  have  freed  England  from  highwaymen.  No;  I 
have  for  the  present  filled  my  purse  by  studying  the  great  game 
of  life;  in  which,  like  all  other  games,  you  must  either  pillage, 
or  be  pillaged.  You  and  I,  men  of  wit  and  of  action,  naturally 
belong  to  the  former  class,  and  have  meritoriously  laboured  to 
fulfil  our  destiny.  Since  I  have  been  in  England  this  time,  I 
have  seditiously  cultivated  the  millionaire  I  introduced  to  you  last 
season,  whose  pocket  you  so  obligingly  relieved  of  .£500  at  piquet.  I 
made  a  bad  bargain  there  in  only  claiming  one-third  of  the  spoil;  I 
should  have  demanded  half,  for  without  my  assistance  you  could 
have  done  nothing  with  him  ;  but  I  understand  them,  these  cautious 
islanders,  some  of  their  blood  runs  in  my  veins — my  mother,  as  you 
know,  having  been  an  Englishwoman.  However,  the  time  spent  on 
my  millionaire  has  turned  out  a  more  profitable  investment  than  I 
at  all  calculated  upon.  He  is  a  weak,  vacillating  character,  one  of 
those  feeble-minded  mortals  who  always  require  some  intelligence 
stronger  than  their  own  to  lean  upon.  This  support  he  has  found  in 
your  humble  servant;  and  so  convinced  has  he  become  of  my 
diplomatic  powers,  that  just  at  present  he  can  do  nothing  without 
my  approval  and  sanction.  His  great  object  in  life  is  to  marry,  and 
it  is  to  assist  him  in  obtaining  a  wife  that  my  counsel  is  required. 
When  I  first  anived  here,  I  found  he  was  dangling  after  a  charming 
little  country  girl,  the  daiighter  of  a  landed  proprietor,  in  these  parts. 
I  soon  discovered  that  the  said  proprietor,  for  mercenary  reasons, 
desired  the  match ;  but  with  the  young  lady  I  could  do  nothing.  I 
gave  her  the  fuU  benefit  of  my  eyes,  which,  as  you  know,  are  not 
wont  to  look  in  vain;  but  it  was  no  use — even  'les  petites 
moustaches  noires,'  iisually  so  in-esistible,  were  thi-own  away  upon 
her;  nor  had  friend  Crane's  ,£20,000  per  annum  ("mon  Dieu, 
Alphonse,  quelle  somme  merveilleuse  ! ')  any  more  effect  upon  her. 
But  I  soon  found  a  clue  to  her  obduracy — the  silly  child  was 
enamoured  of  her  brother's  friend,  a  fox-hunting  squire,  a  true 
specimen  of  young  John  Bull.  I  saw  how  the  game  would  go,  John 
Bull  returned  her  affection;  he  is  a  real  type  of  his  class.     Rich, 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  95 

oTjstinate,  and  impetuous,  he  was  resolved  to  maiTy  tlie  pretty  rustic  ; 
she  was  equally  determined  ;  her  brother  befriended  him  ;  the  thing 
was  to  be,  so  I  arranged  my  hand  accordingly.  There  is  in  the 
family  a  '  belle  cousme ' — such  a  splendid  creature,  Alphonse ! 
beautiful  as  an  angel,  the  contour  of  a  Juno,  the  port  of  an  empress. 
She  has  tact  and  talent !  a  soul  of  fire  beneath  an  exterior  of  ice  ; 
she  is  poor  and  ambitious.  I  could  not  have  hoped  to  find  one  better 
suited  to  my  purpose.  She  shall  marry  Crane ;  his  purse  will  be  in 
her  hands ;  he  will  become  her  slave ;  and,  Alphonse,  she  shall 
be  mine !  Do  you  doubt  my  success,  '  mon  ami  '  ?  Bah  !  the  game 
is  as  simple  as  child's  play.  She  is  young,  ardent ;  she  will  marry 
an  old  man  to  satisfy  her  ambition — she  will  despise  him.  Her  heart 
will  pine  for  an  object  on  which  to  lavish  its  tenderaess ;  I  shall 
present  myself,  become  her  friend,  her  counsellor — and  the  result  ? 
Oh,  you  cannot  doubt  it.  So  I  have  pulled  the  strings,  and  my 
marionettes  have  danced  and  are  dancing.  My  millionaire  offered — 
the  little  rustic  refused  him.  While  he  was  smarting  from  this 
insult,  I  suggested  to  him  that  '  la  belle  coxisine  '  pined  for  love  of 
him ;  praised  her  wit  and  beauty  ;  and  advised  him  to  revenge  himself 
by  transferring  his  attentions  to  her.  The  bait  took  ;  I  worked  out 
all  the  minor  incidents  admirably ;  the  young  fox-hunter  has 
married  the  pretty  rustic,  and  taken  her  out  of  my  way  yesterday. 
The  lovely  Kate,  playing  her  own  game,  laboui's  indefatigably  for 
my  interest  also.  My  friend  Crane  is  delighted,  and  shows  his 
gi'atitude  by  tirging  me  to  borrow  money  of  him — (I  have  mort- 
gaged my  farm  in  Brittany  to  him  for  sis  ;times  its  value ;  when 
the  three  prior  claims  upon  it  are  satisfied,  and  he  brings  forward 
his,  this  fact  will  surprise  him,  and  teach  him  prudence  for  the 
future) — I  avail  myself  of  his  liberality  with  caution,  for  I  must  not 
cut  up  my  golden  goose  too  quickly.  But  it  is  well  to  have  more 
than  one  resource  to  rely  upon;  so  if  your  rich  young  German 
countess  should  resolve  on  visiting  England,  send  me  timely  notice. 
I  feel  that  my  star  is  in  the  ascendant.  Cher  Alphonse,  wish  your 
friend  the  success  which  should  reward  talent,  in  the  use  of  which 
you  have  so  well  instnicted  your  devoted 

"  Horace." 


96  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 
Alice's  first  introduction  to  her  husband's  "  quiet 

MANNER." 

If  our  readers,  gentle  or  simple,  will  obligingly  sti-etch  their  imagina- 
tions sufficiently  to  depict  for  tliemselves  the  happiness  of  Alice  and 
Harry  during  the  first  month  of  their  married  life,  popularly 
denominated  the  honeymon,  and  be  content  to  permit  us  to  resume 
oru-  office  of  clu-onicler  at  the  termination  of  that  mellifluous  (though 
to  all  but  the  parties  concerned,  especially  insipid)  season,  the  readers 
aforesaid  will  merit  our  eternal  gratitude,  which  we  hereby  beg  to 
present  them  with. 

Alice  and  Harry,  then,  having  been  married  one  calendar  month, 
dm-ing  which  i^eriod  they  had  been  "  up  "  the  Rhine,  and  one  or  two 
of  the  Swiss  mountains — having  seen  a  great  many  strange  things 
and  strange  people — having  talked  a  vast  amount  of  bad  French  and 
worse  German,  and  narrowly  escaped  an  attack  of  cholera  from  listen- 
ing to  the  dissonance  of  that  arch-delusion  the  "  Ranz-des-Vaches  " 
— having  eaten  such  wonderfid  articles,  cooked  in  such  wonderful 
fashion,  that  if  the  genus  Bimana  were  not  providentially  omnivorous, 
they  would  infallibly  have  been  poisoned — having  travelled  overland 
and  water  by  every  species  of  conveyance  known  to  the  annals  of 
locomotion,  except  iDerhaps  a  balloon,  or  the  back  of  an  elephant — had 
at  length  made  their  way  to  Paris  ;  and  as  the  inhabitants  of  that 
skittish  and  inconstant  capital  were  then  figuratively  patting  each 
other  on  the  back,  by  way  of  congratulation  on  the  fortunate 
accident  which  had  preserved  those  that  remained  alive  after  the 
latest  revolution  from  having  shot  each  other  through  the  head,  our 
bride  and  bridegi'oom,  established  in  a  comfortable  hotel,  had  de- 
termined to  remain  there  till  such  time  as  they  should  mutually 
agree  upon  for  their  retiirn  to  England.  For,  be  it  observed,  that 
enough  of  the  halo  of  the  honeymoon  yet  lingered  around  this  young 
couple,  to  keep  them  in  the  misty  delusion  that  they  possessed  but 
one  "  will  of  their  own  "  between  them.  They  had  yet  to  leam  that 
there  is  a  higher,  truer,  nobler  state  of  association  to  be  arrived  at 
even  here  on  earth — a  state  in  which  we  recognize  the  deep  happiness 
of  being  inivileged  to  sacrifice  ovir  own  desires  to  those  of  the  being 
we  love  better  than  om-selves.  A  logician  may  stigmatize  this  as 
merely  a  refined  iDhase  of  selfishness ;  but  it  is  such  selfishness  as 
might  cling  to  us  in  heaven,  and  we  yet  remain  sinless.  Be  this  as 
it  may,  Alice,  who  had  never  been  abroad  before,  found  eveiy  pleasui-e 
enhanced  by  the  charm  of  novelty,  and  was  in  a  perfect  Elysium  of 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  97 

happy  excitement.  Harry  had  seen  and  done  it  all,  and  a  great  deal 
more  besides  ;  and  would  have  found  it  a  bore,  only  it  was  sufficient 
amusement  to  him  to  watch  his  young  wife's  delight  at  all  she  saw 
and  heard.  Whether  this  amusement  of  watching,  petting,  and 
spoiling  Alice  was  at  all  beginning  to  lose  its  charm,  may  be 
gathered  from  the  following  conversation : — 

"  Harry,  you  sleepy  old  thing,  this  is  the  third  time  I've  asked 
you  whether  Madame  de  Beauville  is  certain  of  getting  us  an  in- 
vitation to  Lord  N 's  picnic  at  Versailles ;  do  rouse  yourself  and 

answer  me ! " 

Thus  apostrophized,  Coverdale — who  was  stretched  at  full  length 
on  (and  beyond)  a  brocaded  sofa,  and  had  been  lazily  watching  his 
wife,  as  with  a  vast  deal  of  imnecessary  energy,  she  stitched  away  at 
a  button,  which,  according  to  button  nature,  had  "  come  ofE "  her 
husband's  glove  the  very  first  moment  he  attempted  to  draw  it  on — 
half -raised  himself  on  his  ell^ow  as  he  replied, — 

"  There  is  nothing  certain  under  the  sim,  except  that  my  little 
wife  has  the  prettiest  hand  and  arm  of  any  woman  (I  don't  care  who 
she  may  be — Jew,  Turk,  infidel,  heretic,  or  Christian)  in  the  known 
world.  But  that  old  humbug,  Madame  de  Beauville,  promised  me 
faithfully  to  do  her  best  for  us — not  that  I'd  believe  her  on  her  oath  ; 
she  tried  to  book  me  for  one  of  her  scraggy  daughters,  the  last  time 
I  was  here ;  but  it  wouldn't  act — the  trap  was  too  visible,  and  the 
bait  not  sufficiently  tempting.  What  very  high  action  you  have  with 
that  needle-hand  of  yours  !  you'll  overreach  yourself,  or  get  sprained 
in  the  back  sinews,  some  of  these  days,  if  you  don't  look  out." 

"I  will  not  allow  you  to  '  talk  stable  '  in  that  way,  sir,"  returned 
Alice,  playfully  shaking  her  finger  at  her  reciimbent  spouse ;  "  you 
shall  not  go  to  the  picnic  at  all,  you  naughty  boy,  unless  you  behave 
better.  Come,  get  up,"  she  continued,  "  if  you  lie  dovm  again  you'll 
be  asleep  in  a  minute  ;  you're  so  idle,  you're  actually  growing  fat!  " 

"  Nonsense,  you  don't  really  mean  it !  "  exclaimed  Harry,  springing 
up  with  a  bound  which  shook  the  room,  and  startled  Alice  so  much 
that  she  dropped  the  glove,  needle,  thread,  button,  and  all,  pricking  her 
finger  into  the  bargain.  "  By  Jove,"  he  continued,  regarding  himself 
anxiously  in  a  large  pier-glass,  "so  I  am!  I  tell  you  what,  Mrs. 
Coverdale,  this  is  getting  serious,  and  must  be  put  a  stop  to  !  " 

"My  dearest  Harry,  how  dreadfully  impetuous  you  are!— you've 
made  me  jump  so,  that  I've  dropped  my  work,  and  been  and  gone 
and  pricked  my  favourite  finger,  as  you  say  in  your  horrid  slang — 
look!"  So  saying,  the  pretty  Alice  pouted  like  a  spoilt  child,  as 
she  then  most  assuredly  was,  and  held  iip  the  injured  finger  to 
excite  her  husband's  commiseration.  When  a  proper  degree  of  pity 
had  been  shown,  and  the  necessary  amount  of  matrimonial  felicity 
transacted,  Alice  resumed  :  "  What  a  dreadfully  conceited  fellow  you 
are,  to  be  so  alarmed  at  growing  fat !  Are  you  afraid  of  losing  yom- 
beauty  ?  " 

"  My  how  much  ?  "  was  the  astonished  reply.     "  What  funny  ideas 

H 


98  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

do  come  into  a  woman's  head,  to  be  sure!  Why,  you  silly  child,  do 
you  think  I  ever  set  up  for  a  '  beauty  '  man  ?  or  care  two  straws 
what  I  look  like  ?  Such  follies  are  very  well  for  got  up  puppies,  like 
Horace  D'Almayne ;  but  they're  not  in  my  line." 

"  I'm  sure  you're  fifty  times  as  handsome  as  Mr.  D'Almayne,"  was 
Alice's  ea^ev  rejoinder ;  "  but,"  she  continued  reflectively,  "  if  you 
are  not  afraid  of  your  good  looks,  why  are  you  so  horrified  at  the 
idea  of  growing  fat  ?  " 

Harry  coloured  slightly,  and  tried  to  evade  the  question  ;  but  his 
wife's  curiosity  being  by  this  time  excited,  was  not  so  easily  baffled, 
and  Ooverdale  had  nothing  for  it  but  to  confess  the  truth,  which  he 
did  thus : — 

"  Well,  if  you  must  know,  little  Avife,  I've  a  bay  colt  by  Fencer  out 
of  a  Harkaway  mare,  and  a  chestnut  filly  by  Hercules  out  of 
Bullfinch,  both  rising  five  (I  refused  600  guineas  for  the  pair  of  'em 
a  year  ago),  which  I  expect  to  do  most  of  my  work  with  next  hunting 
season ;  but  as  they're  both  young  unmade  horses,  I  would  not  ride 
over  twelve  stone  for  anything ;  nothing  cows  a  young  horse  more 
than  overweighting  him  at  starting." 

"  Oh,  Harry ! "  exclaimed  Alice  reproachfully,  "  I  thought  you 
meant  to  give  up  hunting  now — I'm   sure  you  said  so  when  you 

were ,  that  is,  before  we  were  married.     Why,  you  -would  be  away 

from  me  more  than  half  the  day  every  time  you  went  out !  besides, 
it's  so  dangerous !  Oh,  no ;  you  may  go  shooting  sometimes,  and  I 
can  ride  a  pony  and  mark  for  you,  as  I  used  to  do  with  papa  and 
Arthur,  but  you  must  not  hunt." 

"  And  can't  you  ride  and  see  the  hounds  throw  off,  darling  ?  It's 
one  of  the  prettiest  sights  in  the  world.  The  first  thing  I  mean  to 
do  when  we  get  back,  is  to  buy  jow  a  perfect  lady's  horse  ;  something 
rather  different  from  that  brute  j^oor  old  Crane  gave  you." 

"  Then  you  won't  promise  to  give  up  hunting,  you  naughty  boy — 
not  even  when  I  ask  you  to  do  so  to  please  me  ?  " 

And,  confident  in  her  own  power,  the  young  wife  cast  a  look,  half- 
imploring,  half-commanding  on  her  lord  and  master,  which  he  would 
have  fovind  it  no  easy  matter  to  resist  to  a  degree  Avhich  should 
vindicate  his  right  to  such  a  title,  when  the  opportune  entrance  of 
the  valet,  with  a  packet  of  letters,  extricated  him  from  his  dilemma. 

"  A  note  from  Madame  de  Beauville,  containing  an  invitation  to  the 
picnic  !— how  delightful !  "  exclaimed  Alice,  appealing  for  sympathy 
to  her  better  half ;  but  he  was  engaged  in  perusing  the  following 
epistle,  which,  owing  to  the  peculiarities  both  of  diction,  writing,  and 
spelling,  it  was  not  too  easy  to  decipher  : — 

"HoNOUiiED  SuR,— I  remain  your  humbel  survunt  and  gaim- 
keepur  as  wos,  John  Markum,  whech  I  would  not  'ave  intruded  on 
you  injoying  of  yourself  in  furring  parts  as  is  most  fit.  having  married 
a  beutiful  yung  English  lady,  as  they  do  tell  me,  and  the  darter  of 
Squire  Hazlehurst  likewise  ;  which  having  caused  a  many  things  to  go 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  99 

rong  at  home,  I  thort  you  wovild  be  glad  to  hear  on  it,  and  so  rite, 
which  I  'ope  is  no  offence,  the  same  being  unintenshonal  on  my  part ; 
but  the  new  stewart  is  agoin  on  oudacious,  a  ordering  of  me  to  kill 
gaim  for  him  to  sell,  which,  refusing  to  do,  agin  your  ordurs, 
Honoured  Sur,  and  he  putting  the  money  in  his  durty  pocket,  savin 
your  presents,  am  discharged  with  four  small  childring,  and  a  little 
stranger  expected,  which  would  have  been  welcome,  but  now  must  be 
a  birding  on  the  parish  with  his  poor  mother;  which,  knowin 
Honoured  Sur,  as  injustice  to  unborn  innocents  is  not  in  your  line, 
nor  in  that  of  any  gents  but  dishonest  stewarts  spoken  agen  in 
Scriptiu',  I  umbly  takes  the  liberty  of  trustin  in  Providence,  which 
supports  his  poor  mother  agen  the  thorts  of  workous  baby-linen,  that 
hangs  heavy  on  a  woman  accustomed  to  wash  for  the  family  and 
keep  herself  respectabul ;  so  do  not  give  up  all  hope  of  seeing  you 
home.  Honoured  Sur,  before  every  bed  of  gaim  is  destroyed,  in  which 
case  Mr.  stewart  may  lurn  that  honesty  is  the  best  politics  arter  all ; 
and  so  remain, 

"  Your  humbel  survunt  to  commarnd, 

"  John  Markum." 

"P.S. — The  I'abbids  is  agoin  to  town  in  the  carriiu*'s  cart,  frightful, 
likewise  the  peasants." 

"  My  dearest  HaiTy,  there  is  to  be  a  '  bal  costum^  after  the  picnic, 
and  that  kind  Madame  de  Beauville  sends  us  tickets  for  both  !  How 
charming  !  "  exclaimed  Alice,  so  engrossed  in  her  pleasant  anticipa- 
tions that  she  had  not  observed  the  gloom  gathering  upon  her 
husband's  brow,  and  was,  therefore,  quite  unprepared  when  he  broke 
out  suddenly, — 

"  'Pon  my  word,  it's  enough  to  drive  a  man  distracted !  the 
moment  one  turns  one's  back  everything  goes  to — —Ahem  ! — Here's 
a  scoundrel,  who  lived  eight  years  with  Lord  FlashiiJan,  and  who 
came  to  me  with  a  character  fit  for  a  bishop,  and  now  he's  not  only 
selling  my  game  by  cart-loads,  but  has  actually  dared  to  discharge 
Markum  ! — as  honest,  trustworthy  a  fellow,  and  as  good  a  keeper  as 
man  need  to  require.  Oh,  if  I  was  but  near  him  with  a  horse-whip,  I 
wouldn't  mind  paying  for  the  assault !  I'd  give  him  something  to 
remember  Harry  Coverdale  by — he  might  thank  his  stars  if  I  didn't 
break  every  bone  in  his  skin.  And  that  poor  fellow  Markum  turned 
out,  and  all  his  little  curly-headed  brats,  too— that  makes  me  as  mad 
as  any  of  it !  "  He  strode  wp  and  down  the  room  angrily,  his  wife 
watching  him  in  terrified  amazement.  At  length  he  exclaimed 
abruptly,  "  Alice,  my  dear,  we  must  start  for  England  to-moiTow 
morning ! " 

"  But  the  picnic  and  the  '  bal  costume,'  Harry,  dearest,  do  not  come 
off  till  the  day  after  that ;  and  Madame  de  Beauville  has  just  sent 
me  tickets  for  them  both  !  "  urged  his  wife,  timidly. 

"  I'm  sorry,  my  love,  that  it  should  have  happened  so,  but  go  we 
must,"  was  the  unyielding  reply. 


100  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  But  Madame  de  Beauville  has  taken  so  miicli  trouble,  and  been 
so  kind,"  miimanred  Alice. 

"  The  devil  fly  away  with  the  old  hag  and  her  kindness  too  !  "  was 
the  angry  rejoinder.  "  I  wish  to  heaven  she'd  attend  to  her  own 
afEairs,  and  not  try  to  inspire  you  with  a  taste  for  dissipation.  How- 
ever, there  is  a  quiet  way  of  settling  this  question :  if  you  choose  to 
stay  and  go  to  this  partj^  stay ;  and  when  I've  been  to  Coverdale, 
and  settled  scores  with  that  rascal  Cribbins,  I'll  come  back  and  fetch 
you ;  so  please  yourself." 

Poor  Alice  !  this  was  her  first  experience  of  Harry's  "  qiiiet  way  "  ; 
the  implied  indifference  was  more  than  she  could  bear,  and  miu'mur- 
ing,  in  a  broken  voice,  "  Do  you  wish  to  leave  me  already  !  "  she  burst 
into  a  flood  of  tears. 

Of  course,  that  settled  the  question.  Harry  called  himself  a  brute, 
and  thought  he  was  one,  and  felt  as  if  he  could  have  cried  too,  when 
he  saw  the  bright  drops  glistening  in  Alice's  soft,  loving  eyes,  and  so 
set  himself  to  work  in  earnest  to  console  her ;  and  succeeded  to  such 
an  extent  that  ere  a  quarter  of  an  hour  had  elapsed,  Alice  pronounced 
herself  to  be  a  silly  child,  and  wondered  how  she  could  have  been  so 
foolish  as  to  cry  because  Harry,  the  kindest  and  most  affectionate  of 
husbands,  had  evinced  his  just  indignation  on  learning  how  the 
miscreant  Cribbins  had  tyrannized  over  the  faithful  and  unfortunate 
Markum,  and  his  dear  little  interesting,  curly-pated  family.  Then, 
as  a  personal  favour  to  herself,  she  begged  Harry  would  let  her  give 
up  the  picnic,  and  stai-t  for  England  next  morning ;  she  would  be 
quite  ready  to  go  at  five  a.m.,  or  earlier,  if  he  wished  it.  To  which 
Harry  replied  that  nothing  should  induce  him  to  deprive  her  of  a 
pleasure  he  knew  she  had  set  her  heart  on ;  that  a  French  picnic  and 
'  bal  costume  '  were  things  she  could  never  see  in  England,  and  that  as 
they  were  there  it  would  be  really  a  pity  not  to  avail  themselves  of  so 
good  an  opportunity ;  and  he  begged  she  would  instantly  sit  down 
and  write  his  thanks,  as  well  as  her  own,  to  that  thoroughly  friendly, 
kind-hearted  woman,  Madame  de  Beauville. 

"While  Alice  was  thus  engaged,  Hari-y  took  pen  in  hand,  and  dashed 
off  a  hurried  epistle  to  Arthur,  begging  him  to  run  down  to  Coverdale 
Park  by  the  next  train,  and  in  his  name  cashier  Cribbins,  and  re- 
instate the  ill-used  Markum,  and  his  much-enduring  wife,  if  possible, 
before  the  arrival  of  the  expected  little  sti'anger  should  add  another 
small  item  to  his  embaiTassments. 

The  picnic  was  a  very  gay  one,  and  the  '  bal  costume '  all  that  Alice's 
"  fancy  had  painted  it," — and  a  few  over,  as  her  slang  husband  was 
pleased  to  express  it.  The  young  couple  went  dressed  as  Romeo 
and  Juliet.  Hari-y,  if  left  to  himself,  would  have  chosen  a  clown's 
suit  of  motley ;  but  Alice  considered  the  romantic  preferable  to  the 
ridiculous,  and  so  he  yielded ;  though  it  must  be  confessed  that  he 
afforded  the  most  stalwart,  robust,  and  cheerful  representation  of  the 
forlorn  Veronese  lover  that  can  well  be  imagined.  Alice  (although 
she  also  would  have  looked  the  part  better  if  her  damask  cheek  had 


^^ 


102  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

a  girl  as  Kate — so  clever  and  handsome,  so  unusually  superior  in 
every  point — should  throw  herself  away  upon  that  silly  old  man, 
whom  she  cannot  even  respect  ?  "  rejoined  Alice. 

*'  If  I  must  speak  the  plain  truth,"  replied  Harry,  "  I  should  say 
that  a  girl  who  could  make  such  a  sacrifice  of  her  own  free  will  isn't 
worth  pitying  for  it ;  she  must  be  both  mercenary  and  ambitious — 
serious  faults  in  a  man,  but  positive  vices  in  a  woman,  because  in 
yielding  to  them  she  is  sinning  against  all  the  better  instincts  of  her 
nature :  for  such  a  character  I  can  feel  no  sympathy." 

"  But  indeed,  Harry,  she  is  not  such  a  dreadful  heartless  creature 
as  yoii  imagine  her :  at  least,  she  never  used  to  be.  On  the  contrary, 
when  we  wei'e  all  children  together,  she  was  rather  high-flown  and 
romantic.  It  was  during  the  time  that  she  was  at  school,  and  xmder 
the  care  of  a  horrid  woman,  a  Miss  Crofton — " 

'*  A  Miss  how  mvich  ?  "  inquired  Harry. 

"  Miss  Crofton." 

"  What  was  her  Christian  name  ?  "  continued  Hany. 

"Arabella,"  was  the  reply. 

"  By  Jove  !  did  you  ever  see  her  ?  Was  she  a  tall,  dark-looking 
ci'eature,  with  great  flashing  eyes  like  a  gi^Dsy's  ?  " 

"Yes,  that  is  an  exact  description  of  her,"  returned  Alice, 
in  surprise ;  "  but  why  do  you  ask  ?  What  do  you  know  of 
her?" 

"  No  good,"  returned  HaiTy,  mysteriously,  shaking  his  head  ;  "  but 
never  mind,  go  on." 

"  I  was  only  going  to  say  that  I  feel  sure  Kate  must  have  some 
better  reason  than  a  mere  wish  to  become  a  great  lady,  to  induce 
her  to  marry  Mr.  Crane.  Tou  know  her  father  and  mother  are  very 
poor,  and  she  has  several  younger  brothers  and  sisters ;  perhaps  she 
wishes  to  help  them." 

"  I  dare  say  she  does,"  replied  Hany,  turning  away  to  conceal  a 
yawn ;  "  nobody  is  all  bad,  any  more  than  they  are  all  the  other 
thing.  Characters  are  like  zebras — alternate  stripes  of  black  and 
white ;  the  only  difference  is,  that  in  some  one  colour  predominates, 
in  some  the  other." 

There  was  a  pause,  then  in  a  lower  voice  Alice  resumed,  "  Harry, 
did  it  ever  occur  to  you  (of  course,  I  do  not  want  you  to  betray  con- 
fidence even  to  me),  but  did  you  ever  suspect  that  Arthur  was 
attached  to  Kate  ?  " 

"  Never  in  my  life,"  was  the  unhesitating  reply.  "  Arthur 
always  laughed  the  tender  passion,  as  he  used  to  call  it,  to  scorn." 

"  I  felt  almost  certain  it  was  so,"  continued  Alice ;  "  but  I  most 
earnestly  hope,  for  his  sake,  that  I  was  mistaken ;  if  not,  only  con- 
ceive how  wretched  this  engagement  will  make  him  !  " 

"  Judging  by  my  own  feelings,  when  I  fancied  you  had  accepted 
the  in-esistible  cotton-spinner,"  returned  Coverdale,  "  I  should  say 
that  Prometheus,  who  had  a  perennial  vulture  making  '  no  end  '  of  a 
meal  on  his  liver  (which  I  take  to  be  simply  a  metaphorical  method 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME   OF  IT  103 

of  stating  that  the  unfortunate  Titan  was  afflicted  with  hepatic 
disease),  was,  by  comparison,  'a  gentleman  who  lived  at  home  at 
ease.' " 

"  I  used  to  fancy  sometimes,"  pvirsued  Alice,  "  that  Kate  returned 
his  afPection ;  but  she  was  so  reserved,  and  her  manner  was  always  so 
calm  and  self-possessed,  that  it  was  impossible  to  judge,  with  any 
degree  of  certainty,  what  her  feelings  might  be.  However,  this 
settles  the  point  so  far  as  she  is  concerned  ;  if  she  had  really  cared 
about  him,  she  could  never  have  consented  to  marry  Mr.  Crane." 

"  Hum !  well  I  don't  know  that,"  returned  Han-y  meditatively ; 
"  it  is  not  all  women  who  have  such  simple,  true,  loving  hearts  as  you, 
my  own  darling;  and  a  pupil  of  Arabella  Crof ton's  may  very  well  be 
capable  of  loving  one  man  and  marrying  another." 

"  Why,  how  came  you  to  know  anything  aboiit  Miss  Crofton, 
Harry  ?  "  exclaimed  Alice,  her  curiosity  being  thoroughly  roused  by 
her  husband's  second  allusion  to  some  previous  acquaintance  with 
her  cousin's  ci-devant  governess. 

"  I  met  her  in  Italy,  if  you  must  know,"  returned  Coverdale.  "  She 
lived  as  governess  in  a  family  where  I  visited,  and  I  saw  a  good  deal 
of  her  at  one  time." 

There  was  something  so  odd  and  conscious  in  his  manner  of 
speaking,  that  Alice  exclaimed,  "  She  fell  in  love  with  you,  I  am 
certain  of  it.    Come,  confess  now  that  I  am  right." 

"  Do  you  think  that  every  woman  must  needs  be  as  foolish  as 
yourself,  you  silly  child  ?  "  was  the  iincomijlimentary  reply.  "  I  can 
assure  you,  Miss  Crofton  is  as  utterly  unlike  you  in  tastes,  habits, 
and  opinions,  as  she  is  in  person ;  and  that  is  a  pretty  considerable 
assertion,  I  take  it.  And  now  it  is  time  for  you  to  get  ready  for  our 
last  drive  in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne,  and  I  must  go  out  and  buy  a 
clean  pair  of  gloves ;  so  for  ten  minutes  I  shall  wish  yovi  an  affec- 
tionate farewell." 

Thus  saying,  Harry  quitted  the  apartment ;  and  Alice,  going  to 
prepare  for  her  drive,  forgot,  for  the  time,  her  husband's  mysterious 
intimacy  with  Miss  Crofton — it  occurred  to  her  afterwards,  indeed, 

when ,  but  we  must  not  anticipate.    The  next  morning  saw  them 

'  en  route.'  As  they  were  about  to  embark  at  Boulogne,  a  sensation 
was  created,  at  the  hotel  at  which  they  waited  till  the  tide  served 
for  the  packet  to  start,  by  the  arrival  of  a  travelling  carriage  drawn 
by  four  horses,  with  a  lady  inside,  and  her  soubrette,  and  an  out- 
landish,  courier-like  creature  in  the  rumble. 

"  By  Jove  !  "  exclaimed  Harry,  who,  ensconced  behind  a  window- 
curtain,  had  been  examining  the  turn  out  with  all  the  interest  with 
which  a  position  of  enforced  idleness  invests  every  trifle.  "By  the 
powers,  there's  a  foreign  coronet  on  the  carriage,  and  ditto  on  Don 
Whiskerando's  buttons  !  I  wonder  what  she  is  like !  Young  and 
pretty,  by  all  that  is  interesting  and  romantic  !  I  dare  say  she  is 
going  to  cross  in  the  same  boat  as  we  are.  Yes  !  Whiskerandos  is 
gesticulating  and  explaining,  and  the  landlord  waves  his  hand  in  the 


104  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

direction  of  tlie  pier.  Now  comes  the  bore  of  being  a  married  man  : 
wliat  a  splendid  adventure  I  am  shut  out  from !  If  I  were  but 
single,  an  opportunity  now  offers  of  captivating  a  lovely  and  accom- 
plished foreign  countess,  with  a  dowi-y  of  diamonds  in  her  di'essing- 
box,  and  a  gold  mine  in  her  precious  pocket :  there's  a  good  opening 
for  a  nice  young  man  !  " 

"  Pray  avail  yourself  of  it,"  retin*ned  Alice.  "  Don't  let  me  be  any 
obstacle  ;  carry  off  the  countess,  and  I  will  remain  behind  with  that 
noble  creature  whom  yoti  style  Don  Whiskerandos.  I  prefer  him 
infinitely  to  you,  he  is  so  like  a  very  well-trained  baboon." 

Harry's  conjecture  that  the  mysterious  countess  meant  to  cross  in 
the  same  vessel  with  himself  and  his  wife  proved  correct ;  for, 
scarcely  had  he  seen  Alice  comfortably  established  on  a  snug  bench, 
where,  if  the  sea-fiend  should  be  so  uncourteous  as  to  attack  her, 
she  could  on  an  emergency  lie  down,  when  daintily  tripped  along 
the  human  chicken-ladder  which  connected  the  vessel  with  the  shoi-e, 
the  graceful,  "  bien  chausse,"  little  feet  of  the  countess.  Then 
ensued  a  grand  scene.  Whiskerandos  either  did  not  comprehend, 
or  refused  to  comply  with  some  demand  of  the  hotel  commissionaire, 
who  had  taken  i;pon  himself  the  charge  of  the  baggage,  and  who 
accordingly  resisted  his  conveying  his  mistress's  luggage  on  board. 
Whiskerandos  grimaced  and  chattered  in  a  polyglot  jargon, 
apparently  compounded  of  every  language  imder  heaven,  and 
utterly  incomprehensible  to  the  deei^est  philologist  extant:  the 
commissionaire  was  immovable.  Whiskerandos  implored — the 
commissionaire  was  deaf  to  his  entreaties.  Whiskerandos  stormed — 
the  commissionaire  was  inexorable.  Whiskerandos,  unable  to  endure 
his  fate  with  calmness,  went  raving  mad — he  swore  oaths  so  replete 
with  improbable  consonants  that  it  is  only  a  wonder  they  did  not 
smash  every  tooth  in  his  head ;  he  stamped,  shrieked,  clenched  his 
fists,  and  shook  them  in  the  face  of  his  adversary — in  vain;  the 
commissionaii'e  remained  adamant,  and  prepared  actually  to  carry 
off  the  offending  luggage. 

"  Look  at  that  ape,"  observed  Harry  to  his  wife,  who  was  watching 
the  scene,  half  in  amusement,  half  in  terror ;  "  he's  going  into  sky- 
blue  fits  apparently :  of  all  absurd  sights  an  angry  foreigner  is  the 
most  ridiculous.  Do  you  see  his  moustaches  p^they  actually  stand 
on  end  with  fury,  like  the  hairs  on  the  tail  of  an  excited  cat.  But 
see,  the  Don  appeals  to  his  mistress ;  the  Countess  will  have  to  settle 
the  affair  '  in  ])ropria  iDcrsoua.'  "  This  affair,  however,  was  not  to  be 
arranged  so  easily ;  for  the  inflexible  commissionaire  proved  as  deaf 
to  the  entreaties  of  the  mistress  as  he  had  shown  himself  to  the 
thi'eatenings  of  the  man ;  and  the  Countess,  if  countess  she  was, 
having  remonstrated  to  no  purpose  in  a  gentle,  timid  voice,  looked 
helplessly  round,  as  though  she  would  appeal  to  society  at  large  to 
aid  her  in  her  difficulty. 

"  Poor  thing  !  those  men  have  frightened  her ;  she  looks  ready  to 
cry  !  "  exclaimed  Alice.    "  Harry,  dear,  do  go  and  see  if  you  cannot 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  105 

assist  her — you  iinderstancl  how  to  manage  those  people  so  well ; 
besides,  they  always  attend  to  a  gentleman." 

Thus  urged,  Han-y  crossed  the  deck,  and  Alice  saw  him  take  off 
his  hat  and  address  the  interesting  foreigner ;  she  bowed  her  head, 
and  was  evidently  making  a  grateful  answer  ;  then  Harry  turned  to 
the  disputants,  who  both  assailed  him  with  a  volley  of  words,  upon 
which  he  first  silenced  Whiskerandos,  then  he  exchanged  a  few 
cabalistic  sentences  with  the  commissionaire,  and  slipped  a  talisman 
into  his  hand,  whereupon,  with  the  celerity  of  some  harlequinade 
trick,  he  changed  into  an  amiable,  obliging  creature,  only  too 
anxious  to  please  everybody,  and  went  olf,  patting  Whiskerandos  on 
the  back,  and  calling  him  a  "  brave  gar? on,"  to  assist  with  his  own 
silver-absorbing  fingers  in  conveying  the  Countess's  luggage  on 
board.  Then  the  Countess  overwhelmed  Harry  with  thanks,  and 
Harry  smiled  benignantly  upon  the  Countess,  and  they  "  talked 
conversation  "  for  a  few  minutes  ;  after  which  they  both  looked  at 
Alice,  and  Harry  with  his  best  company  manner  on  (which  was 
merely  his  own  natural  manner  brushed  smooth),  crossed  over  to  her, 

"She  is  really  a  Countess,"  he  began,  "  and  a  very  charming, 
refined  style  of  young  woman  too.  She  wants  to  be  introduced  to 
you,  so  come  along." 

"  But,  Harry,  dear,  I  shall  break  my  neck,  or  tumble  into  the  sea, 
if  I  attempt  to  walk ;  just  look  how  it's  rolling  about ! "  remonstrated 
Alice,  whose  essentially  terrestrial  education  had  given  her  rather  a 
horror  of  all  nautical  matters. 

"  We'll  fall  in  together  then,"  returned  Harry,  laughing,  "  at  all 
events  don't  let  us  fall  out  about  it.  Come  along,  littla  wife,  and 
trust  yourself  to  me ;  I've  paced  a  vessel's  deck  when  the  sea's 
shown  rather  a  different  sort  of  surface  from  that  which  it  wears 
to-day." 

As  he  spoke,  he  lalaced  his  arm  I'ound  his  wife's  slender  waist,  and 
half  supported,  half  led  her  across  the  deck  in  safety. 

"  What  is  her  name,  Harry  ?  "  inquired  Alice,  as  they  were  effect- 
ing the  transit. 

"  Bertha  seems  to  be  her  Christian  name— of  course  her  surname  is 
something  unpronounceable  and  appalling ;  but  if  you  call  her 
Countess  Bei-tha  that  will  do  ;  at  all  events,  as  long  as  our  acquaint- 
ance with  her  is  likely  to  last,"  was  the  reply. 

Alice  having  never  before  encountered  a  real,  live  Countess,  felt  a 
little  shy  at  first;  but  the  young  foreigner's  manner,  which  was 
perfectly  easy  without  being  too  familiar,  soon  reassured  her,  and 
the  two  girls  (for  the  Countess  appeared  little  older  than  Alice) 
chatted  away,  at  first  in  French,  but  when  it  came  out  that  the 
stranger  likewise  understood  English,  in  that  language  to  their 
mutual  satisfaction.  But  in  about  half  an  hour  a  breeze  (not 
metaphorical,  but  literal)  sprung  up,  and  the  Countess  signified  her 
wish  to  retire  to  the  cabin,  upon  which  Coverdale  summoned  her 
maid,  and  then  assisted  her  to  effect  the  desired  change  of  locality. 


106  HARRY  COVERDALES  COURTSHIP 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

A  COMEDY  OF    ERRORS. 

"  There  now,  I  consider  I've  done  the  polite  in  tlie  first  style  of 
fashion  and  elegance,"  observed  Harry,  self-comf)lacently,  as  he 
rejoined  his  wife;  "  Horace  D'Almayne  himself  could  not  have 
polished  off  the  young  woman  more  handsomely,  for  all  his 
moustaches." 

"  How  you  do  hate  that  poor  Mr.  D'Almayne ! "  retui-ned  Alice, 
laughing.    "  Do  you  know,  I  think  you  are  jealous  of  him." 

"  I  was  once,  and  that's  the  truth — very  savage  it  made  me  too  ; 
for  if  you  could  have  been  fascinated  by  such  a  puppy  as  that,  I  felt 
I  had  mistaken  your  character  '  in  toto,'  and  that  the  Alice  I  loved 
was  a  creature  of  my  own  imagination,  not  a  reality — but  I  soon  saw 
my  eiTor." 

Alice  glanced  at  him  archly.  "  Are  you  quite  sure  you  did  not  fall 
into  a  greater  mistake  when  you  fancied  yourself  so  certain  of  my 
indifference  ?  "  she  inquired. 

Harry  fixed  his  eyes  upon  her  with  a  look  of  inquiry,  which,  when 
he  saw  that  she  was  joking,  changed  to  an  expression  of  tenderness ; 
— "  I  could  not  look  in  that  dear  face,  where  every  thought  can  be 
read  as  in  a  book,  and  remain  jealous  for  five  minutes,"  he  answered. 

Alice  made  no  reply,  unless  placing  her  little  hand  in  that  of  her 
husband,  with  a  confiding  gesture,  can  be  called  so. 

The  wind  continuing  fresh,  the  unfortunate  Countess  did  not  re- 
appear ;  but  Coverdale  and  his  wife,  being  so  happily  constituted 
that  the  tossing  produced  no  ill-effects  upon  them,  remained  upon 
deck  till  the  vessel  reached  Dover.  Amid  the  scene  of  confusion 
attending  the  arrival  of  a  steamer,  Harry,  having  secured  his 
luggage,  was  standing  sentinel  over  a  moderately-sized  pyramid, 
which  he  had  caused  to  be  erected  of  the  same,  when  Alice,  then 
seated  upon  a  large  black  trunk,  which  she  had  seduced  her  husband 
into  buying  in  the  Rue  St.  Honor<5,  and  which  would  very  easily  have 
held  her,  bonnet,  cloak,  and  all,  suddenly  exclaimed, — 

"  Oh,  Harry  !  do  look  at  that  yoimg  exquisite  who  has  just  come 
on  board :  why  he's  the  very  moral,  as  the  old  women  say,  of  the 
person  we've  been  discvissing — Mr.  D'Almayne !  " 

"  By  Jove,  he's  more  than  the  moral ! "  returned  Coverdale,  as  the 
individual  thus  alluded  to  advanced  towards  them  bowing  and 
smiling,  "  it's  the  veritable  Horace  himself,  I  vow — talk  of  the  devil—. 
My  dear  fellow,  how  are  you?  who'd  have  thought  of   seeing  you 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  107 

here !  You've  not  turned  Custom-house  ofl&cer,  have  you  ?  I've 
nothing  contraband  about  me,  except  this  morning's  '  Galignani ' ;  if 
you  are  inclined  to  make  a  seizure  of  that,  you're  very  welcome." 

"  You're  nearer  the  mark  than  you  imagine,  my  dear  sir,"  was  the 
reply ;  "  though  not  exactly  a  professional  attache  to  the  Customs,  I 
must  own  that  I  am  here  as  an  amateur  in  that  capacity — my  object 
being  to  facilitate  the  transmission  of  a  lady's  luggage." 

"  Yes  P — how  interesting !  I  hope  she's  yoimg  and  pretty," 
observed  Alice.  "  Come,  Mr.  D'Almayne,  having  let  us  so  far  into 
the  secret,  it's  no  use  to  affect  the  mysterious,  so  tell  us  who  and 
where  she  is." 

"  Where  she  is,  perhaps  you  may  be  able  to  inform  me,  my  dear 
Mrs.  Coverdale,"  replied  D'Almayne,  smoothing  his  moustaches. 
"  The  object  of  my  search  is  a  young  German  lady,  the  Countess 
Bertha  Von  Rosenthal,  to  whom  I  have  promised  my  friend,  the 
Honourable  Mrs.  Botherby,  to  act  as '  preux  chevalier.'  Accordingly 
I  came  down  by  train  this  morning,  provided  with  an  order  from  the 
Board  of  Customs  to  the  people  here  to  pass  the  Countess's  luggage 
unexamined,  and  show  her  every  attention  which  may  facilitate  her 
transit ;  thence  I  am  to  escort  her  and  her  i)roperty  to  Park  Lane  ; 
by  all  which  '  double,  double,  toil  and  trouble,'  I  secure  an  early 
introduction  to,  and  confer  a  favour  upon,  a  young  and  lovely 
heiress." 

"  That's  my  Countess,  as  sure  as  fate  !  "  exclaimed  Harry.  "  She 
said  her  name  was  Bertha  " — and  he  then  related  to  D'Almayne  the 
circumstances  with  which  the  reader  has  already  been  made 
acquainted.  "  And,"  he  continued  in  conclusion,  as  a  female  figure, 
leaning  on  the  arms  of  the  soubrette  and  Don  Whiskerandos, 
emerged  from  the  ladies'  cabin—"  and  here  she  comes,  looking  rather 
poorly  still — nothing  of  the  v/ater-witch  about  her,  at  all  events. 
Have  you  met  before,  or  shall  I  introduce  you  ?  " 

"  Do,  by  all  means,  '  mon  cher ' ;  we  are  total  strangers  to  each 
other,"  was  the  reply.  And  with  an  injunction  to  Alice  to  remain 
where  she  was  till  he  should  return,  Harry  seized  D'Almayne's  arm, 
and  hurried  him  away.  Before  two  minutes  had  elapsed,  Coverdale 
returned  alone. 

"It's  all  right,"  he  said:  "but  come  along;  D'Almayne's  order 
will  clear  our  luggage  also,  and  we  can  all  get  away  together." 

Then  ensued  a  grand  scena  of  bustle  and  confusion,  during  which, 
supported  by  her  husband's  stalwart  arm,  Alice  caught  glimpses  of 
D'Almayne  smiling  to  show  his  white  teeth,  and  striving  vigorously 
to  enact  the  part  of  guardian  angel  to  the  rich  young  heiress. 

"  That  puppy  is  in  his  glory  now,"  observed  Coverdale  snap- 
pishly ;  "  I  dare  say  that  silly  woman  will  take  him  at  his  own  price, 
and  believe  in  him  to  any  extent  to  which  he  may  like  to  lead  her 
— perhaps  marry  him  after  all,  and  make  him  Count  von  Rosenthal : 
that  would  suit  his  complaint  exactly,  the  fortune-hunting  young 
humbug ! " 


108  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  My  dear  Harry,  what  words  ! "  exclaimed  Alice.  "  You  are  really 
quite  savage  to-day  ;  I  shall  he  ohliged  to  take  Mr.  D  Almayne  under 
iny  protection,  if  you  go  on  so." 

"  No  need  to  do  that,  my  dear,"  rehirned  Hai-ry,  his  face  resuming 
its  usual  hright,  kind  expression,  as  his  glance  fell  upon  his  wife ; 
"  your  protege  is  quite  certain  to  take  the  hest  possible  care  of  him- 
self— now  come  along ; "  and  in  another  five  minutes  they  had  left 
the  vessel  and  entered  a  railroad-carriage,  in  which  the  Countess  and 
D  Almayne  had  already  established  themselves. 

The  journey  to  London  was  a  very  agreeable  one ; — the  Countess, 
having  recovered  with  marvellous  celerity  the  moment  she  placed 
her  pretty  little  foot  on  ten'a  firma,  exei-ted  herself  to  make  up  for 
lost  time,  and  succeeded  so  well  that  DAlmayne,  who  became  more 
and  more  '*  empress^  "  and  devoted  every  moment,  determined,  if  he 
should  be  able  to  ascertain  beyond  a  doubt  that  her  fortune  was  as 
large  as  it  had  been  represented,  to  give  up  every  other  speculation, 
and  devote  all  his  energies  to  secui-e  the  hand  and  purse  of  this 
fascinating  foreigner.  As  they  approached  the  London  Bridge 
terminus  the  Countess,  turning  to  her  new  guai'dian,  inquired 
whether  it  was  very  far  to  Park  Lane  : — 

"  About  half  an  hour's  drive.  The  carriage  will,  I  trust,  be  there 
to  meet  this  train  ;  though,  owing  to  our  having  avoided  all  delay  at 
the  Custom-house,  we  shall  be  in  town  some  two  hours  sooner  than 
the  other  steamboat  passengers.  However,  if  we  arrive  earlier  than 
is  expected,  it  will  only  be  an  agreeable  surprise  to  our  kind  friend, 
Mrs.  Botherby." 

"  Mais  oui !  "  returned  the  Countess  with  a  look  of  innocent  per- 
plexity ;  "  and  who  may  be  '  cette  chere '  Madame  Bodairebie  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Botherby,  my  dear  Countess,"  returned  DAlmayne,  Avho 
began  to  think  his  charming  friend  must  be  slightly  insane,  "  Mrs. 
Botherby — the  Honourable  Mi-s.  Botherby — is  the  lady  who  obtained 
for  me  the  j)leasure  of  rendering  you  this  slight  service." 

"  Quelle  drole  de  chose.  I  shall  not  know  some  Mrs.  Bodairebie  no 
veres,"  was  the  astounding  reply. 

"But — but — "stammered  DAlmayne,  as  an  idea  occurred  to  him 
sufficiently  alarming  to  surpi-ise  him  out  of  his  usual  "  sang  froid," 
"excuse  me — but  surely  you  are  the  Countess  Bertha  von  Rosen- 
thal ?  " 

A  peal  of  silvery  laughter  was  the  only  reply  the  unhappy  exquisite 
was  at  first  able  to  obtain ;  but  as  soon  as  she  could  recover  hei'self , 
the  mysterious  lady  began  :  "  Mille  pardons  !  I  am  so  rude  to  make 
a  laugh  at  you,  but  I  am  so  gay  I  alvays  must  laugh  ven  I  see  a 
ridiculous  thing  in  front  of — bah — vot  you  call  before  me.  Mon 
cher  Monsieur,  you  have,  I  know  not  how,  tumbled  into  a  delusion. 
I  am  not  at  all  zie  Coimtess  Bertha  von  Rosenthal,  but  zie  Countess 
Bertha  Nasimoif ,  en  route  to  stay  viz  my  fi-iend.  Lady  St.  Clare,  in 
Park  Lane,  London,  till  my  hosband  shall  capture  zie  permission 
of  die  Czar  to  leave  Petei-sburg  and  transport  liimseHs  after  me." 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  109 

Coverdale,  Alice,  and  the  Coiintess  Nasimoff,  glanced  first  at 
D'Almayne,  then  at  one  another,  and  then — but  if  they  were  heart- 
less enough  to  laugh  consumedly,  we  will  draw  a  veil  over  such  un- 
feeling conduct. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE    MORNING    OF   THE    FIRST   OF   SEPTEMBER. 

The  first  of  September !  We  wonder  if  we  were  a  covey  of  partridges 
what  we  should  think  about  the  first  of  September,  and  how, 
generalizing  from  that  idea,  we  should  feel  towards  the  race  of  men, 
— sons  of  guns,  as  in  partridge  parlance  we  should,  doubtless, 
metaphorically  term  them  !  We  wonder  from  what  point  we  should 
regard  pointers  (disappointers,  as  a  witty  friend  of  ours  called  a 
couple  of  "  wild  young  -dogs,"  who  ran  in  upon  their  game,  and 
cheated  him  of  a  promising  shot),  or  how  we  shovild  look  upon  a 
setter  making  'a  "  dead  set "  at  us  !  Reasoning  by  analogy,  and  not 
supposing  partridges  to  be  better  Christians  than  Christians  them- 
selves, we  fear  we  should  consider  sportsmen  (the  very  name  is  an 
addition  of  insult  to  injury)  greater  brutes  than  their  four-footed 
allies  ;  and  that  the  idea  of  standing  fire  (either  kitchen  or  gun),  the 
notion  of  the  roasting  we  must  undergo  after  we  have  been  plucked, 
• — of  the  way'in  which  we  should  be  cut  up  by  a  set  of  blades,  who  are, 
after  all,  ready  enough  to  pick  our  brains,  and  avail  themselves  of 
our  merry  thoughts,  would  put  us  in  such  a  flutter  that  it  would  be  a 
mercy  if  we  were  not  to  show  the  white  feather,  and  refuse  to  die 
game  after  all. 

Such,  however,  were  by  no  means  the  sentiments  with  which  Harry 
Coverdale  looked  forward  to  the  first  of  September.  On  the  con- 
trary, although  he  endeavoured  to  disguise  the  fact  from  his  wife, 
and  indeed  from  himself,  as  far  as  in  him  lay,  the  truth  was  that  he 
was  as  much  delighted  at  the  prospect  of  a  good  day's  partridge 
shooting,  as  the  veriest  school-boy  released  from  the  drudgery  of 
dictionary  and  grammar.  Markum,  that  trustworthy  custodian  of 
game,  and  original  specimen  of  a  polite  letter- writer,  who  had  been 
safely  re-instated  in  his  office,  and  received  such  handsome  presents 
of  baby-linen  and  other  infantry  accouti'ements  that  the  ilhistrious 
"  little  stranger,"  who  had  wisely  postponed  his  arrival  till  the  evil 
day  had  departed,  bid  fair  to  be  clothed  in  a  style  befitting  the  heir- 
apparent  to  a  dukedom   rather  than  to  a  double-barrelled  gun — 


no  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

Markum  repoi'ted  that  altlioiigh  tlie  liares  and  pheasants  (which 
he  persisted  in  calling  peasants)  had  suffered  some  diminution  from 
the  practices  of  the  dishonest  steward,  yet  that  he'd  never  "  in  all 
his  bora  days  seen  such  a  blessed  sight  o'  partridges."  Stimulated 
by  this  information,  and  by  the  recollection  that  on  the  preceding 
first  of  September  he  had  been  kicking  his  heels  and  ciu'sing  his 
evil  fortune,  as  he  jDerformed  quarantine  in  a  red-hot  port  of  the 
Mediterranean,  Harry — having  greatly  amused  Alice  by  the  earnest 
zeal  with  which,  on  the  31st  of  August,  he  examined  and  re-examined 
his  "  Joe  Man  ton,"  and  the  exact  and  stringent  orders  he  gave  in 
regard  to  the  feeding  of  his  dogs,  than  which  the  most  fastidious 
invalid  could  not  have  been  more  delicately  and  precisely  dieted — 
awoke  at  four  o'clock  on  the  eventful  morning,  and,  without  disturb- 
ing Alice,  who  was  sleeping  as  calmly  as  a  child,  arose  and  dressed 
himself  in  a  thoroughly  workmanlike  shooting  costume.  Having 
accomplished  this  feat  without  waking  Alice,  he  wrote  on  a  bit  of 
paper,  "  Good  morning  and  good-bye,  dearest.  As  I  intend  to  have  a 
glorious  day  of  it,  do  not  expect  me  till  near  dinner-time,  when  I 
hope  to  return  with  a  full  bag  and  an  awful  appetite.  Tours  ever, 
H.  C,"  and  placing  it  on  his  wife's  dressing-table,  stole  on  tiptoe  to 
the  door,  closed  it  noiselessly  after  him;  and  when,  three  hours 
afterwards,  Alice  opened  her  eyes,  he  was  striding  through  stubble 
on  the  farther  side  of  the  estate,  having  bagged  four  brace  of  birds 
and  a  well-conditioned  and  respectable  Jack  hare. 

Mrs.  Coverdale  was  some  few  minutes  before  she  was,  literally, 
awake  to  a  sense  of  her  situation ;  and  the  lady's-maid  entei'ing 
while  she  was  still  between  sleeping  and  waking,  she  half  uncon- 
sciously asked  the  not  unnatural  question — "  What  has  become  of 
your  master  ?  " 

"  If  you  please,  Mem,  Master's  been  out  shooting  pai-tringers  ever 
since  five  o'clock,  Wilkins  says.  It  you  please,  Mem,  there's  a  note 
for  you,  Mem,  lying  on  your  dressing-table,  in  Master's  hand- 
■svi-iting." 

Rousing  herself,  Alice  read  it  eagerly.  The  contents  did  not  seem 
particularly  to  please  her.  for,  as  she  refolded  the  paper,  she  looked 
grave,  and  gave  vent  to  a  mild  sigh.  "  Do  not  undraw  the  curtain," 
she  said  ;  "  come  again  in  an  hour,  Ellis  ;  I  feel  sleepy,  and  there  is 
nothing  to  get  up  for,"  she  added,  in  a  slightly  pettish  tone.  Falling 
asleep  the  moment  she  laid  her  head  upon  the  pillow,  Alice  dreamed 
that  when  she  came  down  to  breakfast  she  found  Harry  had  returned, 
saying  that  he  could  not  bear  to  leave  her  alone  all  day,  and  so  had 
come  back  and  wished  to  drive  her  to  call  upon  that  agreeable 
woman,  Mrs.  Felicia  Tabinette  (a  name  Avith  which  she  was  inspired 
for  the  occasion,  as  no  such  neighbour  existed),  to  which  proposition 
she  gladly  assenting,  they  had  gone  out  in  a  pony-chaise  made  of 
coral  and  mother-of-pearl,  and  drawn  by  two  lovely  little  sea-green 
ponies  with  lilac  manes  and  tails,  and  harness  made  of  the  best  point 
lace.    And  she  was  just  advancing  the  unanswerable   proposition 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  111 

that,  as  lace  was  the  fittest  material  of  which  to  make  a  lady's  collar, 
it  must  also  be  the  most  propei'  fabric  for  that  of  a  horse,  when  the 
inexorable  Ellis  appeared  for  the  second  time,  and  dispelled  all  her 
bria^ht  visions  by  awakening  her  to  the  dull  reality.  Alice,  however, 
took  her  revenge  upon  that  "  dis-illusioning  "—as  a  Frenchman 
would  have  called  it— lady's  maid,  for  she  was  more  fastidious  and 
difficult  to  please,  and  almost  snappish,  than  Ellis  had  ever  known 
her  before,  insouiuch  that  the  excellent  Abigail  afterwards  pro- 
pounded her  opinion  in  the  servants'  hall,  that  "  Missus  was  '  tuter 
fay  '  outer  sorts,"  which  disheartening  fact  she  accounted  for  by  the 
hypothesis  that  she— Mrs.  Ooverdale— must  have  got  oxit  of  bed 
with  the  wrong  foot  foremost. 

While  the  tea  for  her  solitary  breakfast  was  drawing,  Alice, 
having  no  one  else  to  look  at,  amused  herself  by  regarding  her  own 
natural — no  term  could  be  more  appropriate — face  in  a  large  pier- 
glass,  and  was  quite  startled  to  behold  the  immistakably  ci-oss 
expression  which  characterized  it.  Taking  herself  to  task  for  this, 
she,  sipping  her  tea,  which  did  not  taste  nearly  so  good  as  when 
Harry  was  at  home,  mentally  decided  that  she  was  very  unreason- 
able, and  childish,  and  ridiculous— that  when  Harry  had  been 
devoting  himself  for  the  last  month  to  her  pleasure  and  amusement, 
going  to  balls  and  all  sorts  of  places  which  he  did  not  care  a  pin 
about,  solely  to  please  her,  it  was  horribly  selfish  in  her  to  griidge 
him  a  few  hours  to  devote  to  a  favourite  pursuit — though  how  men 
could  find  delight  in  killing  those  poor  birds,  she  could  not  tell.  She 
did  not  so  much  wonder  about  other  people  ;  she  believed  men  were 
generally  cruel;  but  Hariy  was  so  unusually  kind-hearted.  She 
supposed  it  must  be  the  excitement,  and  the  beautiful  scenery,  and 
the  interest  in  watching  those  dear,  clever  dogs  stick  out  their  long 
tails  to  point  at  the  partridges  with — which,  looking  at  it  in  a 
Chesterfieldian  point  of  view,  was  decidedly  impolite,  if  not  positively 
rude,  of  them ;  and  yet  she  had  heard  gentlemen  talk  about  their 
sporting  dogs  being  so  well-bred. 

Having  thus  reasoned  herself  into  a  wiser  frame  of  mind,  she 
resolved  to  make  the  best  of  it ;  and  suddenly  recollecting  she  had  at 
least  a  thousand  things  to  do,  which  she  was  continually  putting 
aside  till  some  time  or  other  when  Harry  should  be  out,  she  decided 
that  this  was  the  time,  and  that  now  or  never  must  they  all  be  done. 
Accordingly,  she  set  vigorously  to  work,  and  wrote  three  letters  one 
after  another,  to  three  former  schoolfellows,  whei'ein  she  described 
her  husband  as  a  species  of  modern  demi-god,  compounded  of  equal 
parts  of  Solomon  and  Adonis,  with  a  dash  of  Achilles  thrown  in  to 
do  justice  to  his  heroic  qualities  ;  and  depicted  matrimonial  felicity 
in  such  glowing  colours,  that  the  richest  and  prettiest  of  her 
correspondents  eloped  the  next  week  with  her  music-master;  and 
one  of  the  others,  who  was  neither  rich  nor  i^retty,  turned  pious  out 
of  spite,  and  went  into  a  sort  of  High.  Church  Pi'otestant  nunnery- 
and-water,  to  punish  the  men,  who,  it  must  be  confessed,  appeared  to 


112  HARRY  CO VERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

submit  to  the  trial  with  the  most  cheerful  resignation.  Then  Alice 
brought  out  a  large  roll  of  bills,  and  a  thick  house-keeping  book, 
ruled  with  blue  lines,  and  having  a  business-like  smell  of  new  leather 
about  the  binding,  which  Alice  flattered  herself  would  impress  even 
the  stately  housekeeper  (who  Avas  old  enough  to  be  her  mother,  and 
stiff  enough  for  anything ;  and  of  whom  Alice,  in  her  secret  soul, 
stood  very  much  in  dread)  with  a  deep  sense  of  her  being  a  very 
dragon  of  housewifery,  prepared  to  be  down  upon  the  slightest 
attempt  at  peculation  like  an  avenging  fury.  But  the  bills  were  so 
complicated,  and  never  would  add  up  twice  alike,  and  the  butcher 
was  so  inconsistent  and  slippery  about  his  prices,  sometimes  charg- 
ing 7d.  and  sometimes  Tid.,  as  "  if  once  a  pound  of  mutton,  always  a 
pound  of  mutton,"  were  not  an  incontrovertible  axiom ;  and  the 
baker  was  as  bad,  besides  choosing  to  spell  dough,  d-o-e,  which  at 
first  made  her  think  that  he  was  the  butcher  and  sold  venison  ;  and 
the  hams  seemed  always  to  come  from  the  tallow-chandler's  with  the 
candles,  which  wasn't  by  any  means  an  agreeable  association  of 
ideas ;  and  the  footman  was  evidently  of  Esquimaux  descent,  and 
lived  sumptuously  upon  lamip-oil  at  8s.  the  gallon  ;  and  the  coachman 
appeared  to  feed  the  carriage-horses  with  sponges,  wash-leather,  and 
rotten-stone,  which  she  was  sure  could  not  be  good  for  them ;  and 
she  thought  the  under-housemaid  had  ordered  herseK  a  "  Tiu-k's- 
head  "  dessert-cake,  for  her  own  private  eating,  but  it  turned  out  to 
be  a  particular  species  of  broom ;  while  the  amomit  of  hearth-stones 
and  house-flannels  that  girl  consumed  would  have  served  to  build  an 
"Albert  pattern"  model  cottage  once  a  quarter,  and  furnish  the 
pauper  inhabitants  thereof  with  winter  clothing  :  so  that  by  the  time 
luncheon  arrived  poor  Alice,  tired  and  confused,  with  inky  fingers 
and  an  aching  head,  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  she  had  nothing 
in  common  with  Joseph  Hume,  M.P.,  and  that  for  the  future  she 
should  resign  the  glory  of  managing  the  housekeeper's  book  to  Mrs. 
Gripples,  and  restrict  her  department  to  the  equally  dignified,  but 
less  onerous,  duty  of  making  Harry  sign  the  cheques,  and  handing 
them  over  to  that  august  domestic  to  pay  the  bills  with. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE   EVENING   OF   THE   SAME   DAY. 

Luncheon — a  dreadful  hot  kmcheon— luncheon  enough  for  four 
himgry  men,  at  least;  and  Alice  had  a  headache.  Of  course  she 
could  not  touch  a  bit,  so  she  listlessly  nibbled  a  biscviit,  and  sipped 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  113 

lialf  a  glass  of  wine,  and  felt  very  lonely  and  nncomfoi'table,  and  sat 
down  to  think — whicli  was  just  the  very  worst  thing  she  could  have 
done  under  the  circumstances,  for  it  brought  on  a  second  attack  of 
the  "  neglected  wife  "  state  of  feeling  ;  and  she  had  actually  proceeded 
so  far,  that  she  was  about  mentally  to  convict  Harry  (that 
matrimonial  phcenix)  of  positive  selfishness,  when  the  enormity  of 
the  idea  horrified  her,  and  pi-oduced  an  instantaneous  reaction,  and 
she  told  herself,  roundly  and  sharply,  that  she  was  ungrateful  in  the 
extreme,  and  weak,  and  childish,  and  vacillating,  and  altogether 
iinworthy  of  such  a  blessing  of  a  husband  as  Harry  Coverdale. 
And  thus,  having  taken  herself  severely  to  task,  and  repented 
and  confessed,  and  promising  amendment  for  the  future,  yet 
refused  herself  absolution,  she  recovered  sufficiently  to  determine 
that  she  would  do  something  energetic  to  dissipate  reflection, 
though  of  what  nature  the  deed  was  to  be  she  had  not  the  smallest 
conception.  Should  she  order  the  carriage,  and  pay  visits  ? — no, 
impossible  !  they  were  all  first  visits  to  a  set  of  total  strangers,  and 
she  could  no  more  call  upon  them  alone  than  "she  could  fly  :  besides, 
she  would  be  lost  in  that  great  carnage  all  by  herself,  and  the  horses 
would  be  sure  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  shy  and  run 
away,  if  Harry  were  not  there  to  protect  her.  She  knew  the  white- 
legged  horse  had  a  spite  against  her,  for  when  she  wanted  to  pat  his 
nose  one  day,  he  tried  to  bite  her — what  a  wonderful  thing  instinct 
was,  to  be  sure !  No,  she  would  go  and  take  a  brisk  walk,  that 
would  rouse  her  and  do  her  headache  good ;  besides,  she  could  have 
the  dear  dogs  for  company — oh  yes !  a  walk  by  all  means.  Where 
should  she  go  ? — why,  across  the  fields  to  visit  Mrs.  Markum,  and  see 
how  the  little  stranger  looked  in  his  gorgeous  apparel,  and  learn 
whether  mother  or  son  wanted  for  anything.  Harry  would  like  her 
to  do  that,  he  was  so  fond  of  Markum.  Ah,  Alice !  had  you  no 
mental  reservation  ? — did  not  a  hope  lurk  in  the  bottom  of  your 
heart  that  at  the  gamekeeper's  cottage  you  might  possibly  catch  a 
glimpse  of  his  master,  calling  in  for  dry  shoes,  or  a  relay  of  powder 
and  shot  P  Poor,  loving  little  Alice,  ashamed  to  confess,  even  to 
herself,  the  depth  and  sti-ength  of  her  affection  !— silly  little  Alice, 
jealous  even  of  her  involiuitary  rivals,  the  partridges,  who  would 
gladly  have  dispensed  with  the  attentions  her  husband  was  paying 
them  ! — weak,  foolish,  little  Alice  ! — and  yet  more  truly  wise  in  such 
loving  folly,  stronger  in  the  weakness  of  such  tender  womanly 
devotion,  nearer  the  Divine  ideal,  whence  God,  who  made  man  in  His 
ONvn  image,  formed  woman  as  a  helpmeet  for  him,  than  the  most 
self-engrossed  esprit  fort  who  ever  confused  herself  and  others  by 
prating  of  things  above  her  comprehension. 

So  Alice  set  out  for  her  solitary  ramble,  taking  with  her  Pepper 
and  Ginger,  which  (although  the  former  was  often  found  in  a  pretty 
pickle,  and  woiild  have  been  wholly  inappropriate  in  a  cream  tai-t ; 
a,nd  the  latter,  judging  by  the  appearance  of  a  very  red  tongue,  was 

I 


114  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

decidedly  "  liot  i'  the  mouth  ")  were  not  a  couple  of  spicy  condiments, 
but  a  brace  of  Skye  terriers.  The  dogs  were  in  charming  spirits, 
which  they  displayed  by  running  after  and  barking  at  respectable 
blackbirds  seeking  their  frugal  "  diet  of  worms ; "  coming  back  in 
eccentric  and  violent  circles,  to  twitch  the  ends  of  Alice's  boa  and 
the  corners  of  her  shawl,  only  to  dash  away  again  and  lose  themselves, 
by  forcing  burglarious  entrances  into  forbidden  rabbit-burrows,  with 
the  vicious  intention  of  worrying  the  timid  inmates,  in  their  little 
brown  coats,  with  iDractical  jokes  of  tails.  And  here  be  it  observed 
parenthetically,  that  of  all  the  freaks  of  nature,  the  unexpected  way 
in  which  she  has  seen  fit  to  turn  u])  rabbits'  tails  and  to  line  them 
with  white,  to  the  great  disfigurement  and  i)ersonal  hazard  of  the 
owners,  has  always  appeared  to  lis  one  of  the  strangest,  and  only  to 
be  accounted  for  by  the  hypothesis  of  a  chronic  practical  joke. 
Whether  this  idea  enhanced  the  fun  Pe])per  and  Ginger  had  with 
the  rabbits  during  that  expedition,  or  whether  it  never  occiu-red  to 
them,  is  more  than  we  can  tell ;  but  the  extent  to  which  those  dogs 
persisted  in  bui-ying  themselves  alive,  and  harassing  their  mistress 
by  a  succession  of  these  amateur  extramural  interments,  almost 
justifies  us  in  supposing  it  must  have  done  so. 

Having  at  last  succeeded  in  reducing  her  four-footed  torments  to 
such  a  measure  of  obedience  that,  when  thoroughly  tired  of  scamper- 
ing and  scratching,  they  condescended  to  follow  her,  Alice  entered 
a  grass  field,  and  had  walked  half  across  it  ere  she  discovered  the 
alarming  fact  that  there  were  some  cows  gi'azing  in  it,  one  of 
which  she,  to  her  intense  discomposure,  immediately  decided  to  be  a 
bull,  because,  as  she  afterwards  graphically  described  it,  "  it  moo'd 
so  low  down  its  throat  that  it  almost  growled  at  her."  Of  course  all 
bulls  being  mad,  and  a  mad  bull  being  enough  to  frighten  anybody, 
Alice  began  to  run ;  which  feat  of  activity  (or  activity  of  feet,  if  any 
reader  should  prefer  the  phrase  so  transposed)  charmed  the  dogs — 
who  thought  she  did  it  for  their  express  delectation — to  such  an 
extent,  that  they  began  to  bark  furiously,  which  frightened  the  cow 
(for  despite  her  bass  voice,  she  was  a  "  very "  cow  after  all,  and 
fortunately  a  qiiiet  one  into  the  bai-gain),  so  that,  exalting  her  tail, 
and  twisting  it  like  a  corkscrew  for  the  greater  effect,  she  also  set 
off  running,  thereby  adding  to  Alice's  terror  to  such  a  degree  that, 
if  a  providential  stile  had  not  mercifully  rescued  her,  the  consequences 
might  have  l)een  serious.  This  last  "  spirt,"  however,  brought  her  to 
Markum's  cottage,  where  she  foiind  the  Isaby  in  a  great  state  of 
slobbering  splendour — very  red,  ugly,  and  ]:)roniising,  and  altogether 
(as  an  assistant  old  lady,  not  to  say  hag.  rather  the  worse  for  some- 
thing that  had  dropped  into  her  tea  out  of  the  gin  bottle,  and  who, 
from  the  accident,  was  in  an  extensive  condition  of  maudlin  and 
inappropriate  Christianity,  piously  observed),  a  "little  crowing- 
mercy."  Having  done  her  duty  by  this  young  child — that  is,  having 
said  it  was  very  pretty,  which,  to  speak  mildly,  was  untrue — and 
a  very  fine  child^  which,  as  far  as  regarded  its  dress,  it  certainly 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  115 

was' — and  exactly  like  its  f atlier,  which  was  an  awful well,  never 

mind,  pious  fraud  we'll  call  it, — Alice  tipped  the  inappropriate 
Christian  half-a-crown  (in  exchange  for  which  she  received  a  tipsy 
blessing),  and  took  leave,  having  obtained  geographical  instructions 
by  which  she  might,  on  her  homeward  route,  avoid  the  proximity  of 
the  basso  profondo  cow. 

The  walk  back  (with  the  trifling  exception  of  an  episode  wherein 
Ginger  disturbed  the  tenants  of  a  wasps'  nest)  proved  singularly 
uneventful,  and  Alice,  in  her  secret  soul,  pronounced  the  whole 
expedition  a  failure — which,  as  it  had  cured  her  headache,  was  very 
ungrateful  of  her ;  but  she  was  so  engrossed  by  a  little  pain  about 
the  heart,  which  nothing  but  her  husband's  retui'n  could  cure,  that 
she  had  entirely  forgotten  her  headache. 

The  hall  clock  struck  four  as  its  mistress  entered — four  o'clock, 
two  long-  hours  to  dinner  time !  the  time  when  Hariy  would,  that  is, 
ought  to,  return ;  for  she  daresay'd  he  would  be  late,  and  that  they 
should  not  sit  down  to  table  till  half -past  six  at  the  very  earliest. 
What  should  she  do  to  fill  up  this  unharmonious  interval  ?  Why, 
as  she  had  worked  so  hard  all  the  morning,  surely  she  had  a  right  to 
amuse  herself  now.  She  would  read  some  entertaining  book,  which 
would  make  her  laugh  and  raise  her  spirits ;  for,  despite  her  best 
endeavours,  she  was  getting  decidedly  miserable.  So  to  this  end 
she  opened  a  parcel  of  books  from  the  library,  and  began  upon  a  new 
novel  by  that  veiy  talented  lady,  Mrs.  Bluedeville,  and  read  how  a 
"  fair  and  gentle  girl,"  brougbt  up  by  a  select  coterie  of  fiendish 
relations,  and  subjected  from  infancy  to  a  series  of  tortures,  sufficient 
to  have  expended  the  stoutest  negro,  developed,  under  these  favourable 
circumstances,  into  a  perfect  Houri  of  Paradise,  with  the  "  additional 
attraction  "  of  possessing  the  mind,  manners,  eiaxdition,  and  phrase- 
ology of  an  old  divine  of  the  Church  of  England.  This  interesting 
young  mart3T.%  released  from  her  educational  Bastille,  and  turned 
out  to  grass  for  a  brief  space  in  a  pleasant  meadow,  wherein  pastured 
a  gallant,  but  very  moral,  officer  of  dragoons,  naturally  falls  in  love 
with  the  same,  who  fortunately  does  not  resent  the  liberty.  Angelica, 
taken  up  from  her  month's  run  and  put  to  work  much  too  heavy  for 
her,  becomes  better  and  better,  until,  as  might  have  been  expected, 
she  overdoes  the  thing,  and  getting  too  good  to  ;live,  has  nothing  left 
for  it  but  to  die,  which  she  accordingly  does  on  the  anival  of  the 
post  which  brings  an  account  of  the  bold  dragoon  (in  whom,  from  a 
fancied  resemblance  to  Harry,  Alice  had  taken  the  deepest  interest) 
having  fallen  a  \'ictim  to  his  dauntless  courage,  which,  leading  him 
to  kill  sixteen  mounted  Sikhs  in  single  combat,  had  failed  to  preserve 
him  from  the  vindictive  fury  of  the  seventeenth  evil-disposed 
survivor.  Strange  to  say,  this  talented  work,  delightfvil  as  it  was, 
failed  to  render  Alice  much  more  cheerful ;  but  it  succeeded  in 
occupying  her  till  it  was  time  to  go  and  dress  for  dinner,  and  for 
this  she  was  grateful  to  the  genius  of  Mrs.  Bluede-vdlle. 

By  six  o'clock  Alice,  ready  for  dinner  in  more  senses  than  one. 


116  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

betook  lierself  to  the  drawing-room,  wliei-e  she  waited  patiently  for 
half-an-hour,  reading  up  svmdi-y  parts  of  Mrs.  Blnedeville,  which,  in  her 
rapid  flight  through  that  lady's  insti-uctive  romance,  she  had  failed 
to  peruse.  At  seven  o'clock  she  rang  the  bell,  and  inquired  of  the 
butler  whether  his  master  had  come  in,  or  whether,  if  not,  anything 
definite  was  known  of  his  whereabouts.  The  reply  was  unsatisfactory 
in  the  extreme. 

Master  had  not  returned,  he  (Wilkins)  could  form  no  idea  where 
he  was  likely  to  be  ;  but,  as  a  general  maxim,  considered  shooting  to 
be  a  highly  dangerous  amusement.  "Would  Mrs.  Coverdale  obligingly 
condescend  to  ring  the  bell  when  she  wished  the  dinner  to  be  brought 
lip? 

Shooting  a  dangerous  amusement!  Yes,  of  course,  so  it  was — 
gims  constantly  went  off  of  their  own  accord  and  shot  those  who 
were  can-ying  them.    How  was  it  she  had  never  thought  of  this 

before  ?  and  she  had  been  blaming  Harry,  when,  perhaps the  idea 

was  too  hon-ible  to  clothe  in  words,  but  it  had  occun-ed  to  her,  and 
for  Alice  now  there  was  no  peace. 

Mrs.  Blnedeville  was  thrown  aside  with  no  more  ceremony  than  if 
she  had  been  a  penny-a-liner ;  and  with  flushed  cheeks  and  a  beating 
heart  the  anxious  young  wife  began  to  pace  up  and  down  the  apai-t- 
ment.  As  the  minutes  crept  by  (so  slowly !)  Alice's  fear  increased, 
until,  at  half-past  seven,  the  suspense  grew  intolerable ;  and.  ringing 
the  bell,  she  was  just  giving  incoherent  orders  for  two  mounted 
grooms  to  set  off  in  utterly  useless  directions,  when  bang !  bang ! 
went  a  double-baiTelled  gun  in  the  stable-yard,  and  Wilkins  (an 
amiable  but  timid  London  servant)  and  his  mistress  nearly  jumped 
into  each  other's  aiTus. 

Still  haunted  by  the  conviction  that  something  untoward  must 
have  happened,  Alice  hastened  to  meet  her  husband  as  he  entered 
the  hall.  "  Oh,  Harry  dearest,  how  glad  I  am  yoii  are  safe ! "  she 
exclaimed ;  "  but  tell  me,"  she  exclaimed,  refeiTing  to  the  mysterious 
cause  of  his  prolonged  absence,  "  tell  me — what  is  it  ?  " 

"  Sixteen  brace  of  birds,  three  hares,  two  couple  of  rabbits,  a  land- 
rail, and  a  wood-pigeon  ;  and  a  vei-y  fair  bag  I  call  it  for  one  gun," 
was  the  unexpected  reply. 

Relieved,  yet  slightly  provoked,  Alice  resumed :  "  But  what  has 
made  you  so  late  ?    I  have  been  dreadfully  frightened  about  you — " 

"  Frightened !  what  at  ?  oh,  you  silly  child !  But  come,  let  us 
have  dinner  ;  I  shall  be  ready  in  less  than  ten  minutes.  The  idea  of 
being  frightened !  "  and  with  a  smile  of  compassionate  derision,  Hany 
marched  off  to  dress,  humming, — 

"  A  southerly  wind  and  a  cloudy  sky 
Proclaim  it  a  hunting  morning-." 

And  this  was  Alice's  recompense  for  a  lonely  day  spent  in  looking 
forward  to,  and  longing  for,  her  husband's  return,  ending  in  half  an 
hour  of  breathless  anxiety  for  his  safety  !    She  felt  decidedly  cross, 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  117 

and  we  think  she  had  a  right  to  be  so.  During  dinner  she  was  silent 
and  dignified  on  piinciple — her  husband  should  see  that  she  felt  his 
neglect.  But  Han-y  didn't  see  it  one  bit,  bless  him !  He  was  very 
hungiy,  so  for  some  time  kept  strictly  to  business,  and  he  was  very 
happy,  so  when  his  appetite  was  appeased,  he  rattled  on  about  any- 
thing and  everything,  and  was  so  pleasant  and  cheerful  that  Alice 
felt  dignity  would  be  quite  out  of  place,  had  a  little  struggle  with 
her  feelings,  and  then  mentally  forgave  him. 

To  prove  that  she  did  so,  she  laid  herself  out  to  entertain  and 
amuse  him,  and  with  this  view,  when  the  servant  had  left  the  room, 
she  treated  him  to  a  comic  account  of  her  day's  adventures,  and 
having  talked  herself  into  a  great  state  of  communicativeness  and 
sociability,  had  just  reached  the  bass  cow  episode,  when  a  slight 
sound,  not  very  unlike  the  voice  of  the  cow  itself,  reached  her  ear — 
Harry  had  fallen  fast  asleep  ! 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

KATE   SOWS  THE  WIND. 

So  Kate  Marsden  man-ied  the  cotton-spinner,  and  old  Mr.  Hazlehurst 
repurchased  his  farm  on  very  easy  terms.  We  wonder  which  of  the 
two  was  best  pleased  with  the  bargain !  Kate  tm-ned  very  pale  when 
she  promised  to  love,  honour,  and  obey  a  man  whom  she  disliked, 
despised,  and  intended  to  rule ;  nor  do  we  wonder  at  it,  for,  with  all 
her  faults,  Kate  perceived  the  intrinsic  beauty  of  truth,  and  loved  it, 
as  she  did  everything  beautiful.  But  though  she  loathed  herself  for 
what  she  was  doing,  though  her  bitterest  enemy  could  not  have 
taken  a  harsher  view  of  her  conduct  than  she  herself  took,  she  had 
gone  too  far  to  retract,  and  having  swallowed  the  camel  of  crushing 
her  own  heart  and  that  of  Arthur  Hazlehurst,  she  could  not  stultify 
berself  by  straining  at  the  gnat  of  swearing  falsely  in  the  service  for 
the  solemnization  of  matrimony.  Kate's  was  one  of  that  peculiar 
order  of  consciences  which  can  commit  a  sin  knowingly,  on  an 
emergency,  but  dare  not  be  guilty  of  a  bliuider.  In  the  one  case,  the 
end  appears  to  justify  the  means ;  while  in  the  other,  the  entire 
transaction  is  unworthy.  Sophistry,  Kate,  sophisti*y !  which,  while 
you  think  it,  and  act  upon  it,  fails  to  satisfy  even  your  warped  and 
distorted  sense  of  right  and  wrong. 
Kate  Marsden  man-ied  Mr.  Crane — there  was  a  union !    On  the 


118  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

one  side  youtli  and  Ijeaiity  ;  intellect,  lofty  enough  to  have  aimed  at 
any  achievement  which  the  mind  of  woman  has  accomplished  ;  energy 
sufficient  to  have  gained  the  object  striven  for ;  ambition,  that  when 
all  was  won  would  have  despised  the  trophies  at  her  feet,  and  sighed 
for  more  worlds  to  conquer ;  and  a  deep  passionate  nature,  combin- 
ing the  fiery  elements  of  a  southern  temperament  with  the  steady 
perseverance  and  inflexible  resolution  characteristic  of  a  daughter  of 
the  sturdy  north ;  on  the  other  side,  advancing  age,  mental  weak- 
ness, timidity,  and  its  natural  concomitant — suspicion,  together  with 
a  general  paucity  of  ideas,  centred  in  a  vulgar  pride  of  wealth.  All 
Kate's  friends  congratulated  her,  and  many  envied  her  good  fortune ; 
and  Horace  DAlmayne  smiled  on  his  future  victim,  as  he  surely 
reckoned  her;  and  Arthur  Hazlehurst  sat  alone  in  his  dusky 
chambers,  with  bitter  thoughts  busy  at  his  heart,  struggling,  like  a 
brave  and  good  man,  against  the  tempting  fiend  that  bade  him  rise  up 
and  curse  her  who  had  thus  rendered  desolate  his  young  existence; 
and  the  minister  of  religion  stood  before  the  altar  and  pronounced 
his  blessing  over  this  hollow  mockery  of  maiTiage,  which  no  amount 
of  blessing  could  hallow ;  and  the  happy  pair  drove  off  to  some 
fool's  paradise  to  enjoy  the  honeymoon. 

Poor  Mr.  Crane  !  if  he  had  dreamed  of  the  volcano  of  feeling  that 
smouldered  at  his  side  beneath  that  cold,  calm  exterior,  he  would 
assuredly  have  flimg  open  the  carriage  door,  sprung  out  (albeit  not 
accustomed  to  such  feats  of  activity),  and  never  ceased  running 
until  he  had  reached  Manchester.  Fortunately,  however,  his  wife's 
mind  was  a  sealed  book  to  him,  and  so  he  reached  the  end  of  his 
journey  in  peace  and  safety. 

Having  borne  the  honeymoon  with  resignation,  Kate  endured  her 
bad  bargain  tete-a-tete  at  various  watering-places  and  amongst 
innumerable  lakes  and  mountains  of  toiirist  notoriety,  until  she  had 
taught  him  the  only  accomiDlishment  she  cared  to  inculcate,  viz., 
obedience,  which  he  learned  very  readily,  seeing  that  it  relieved  him 
from  all  trouble  and  responsibility.  This  point  accomplished,  she 
took  him  to  a  fashionable  hotel  in  St.  James's  Street,  where  she  wi-ote 
to  her  friend,  Arabella  Crofton,  to  join  her.  However,  before  that 
excellent  young  woman  of  the  world  had  time  to  wind  up  the  ends  of 
a  few  trifling  skeins  of  policy,  with  which  she  had  been  constructing 
nets  for  small  birds  at  Baden-Baden,  Horace  D'Almayne  found  out 
the  residence  of  the  happy  couple,  and  proceeded  to  call  upon,  dine 
with,  and  make  himself  generally  useful  and  agreeable  to  them. 
Kate  did  not  like  him,  but  she  had  been  for  two  months  tete-a-tete 
with  Mr.  Crane,  and  Horace  possessed  this  advantage  over  that  devoted 
husband,  that  he  was  not  a  fool,  and  Mr.  Crane  was.  Horace  was  not  a 
fool ;  on  the  contrary ,  he  was  such  a  clever  knave  that  it  was  really  a  pity 
that  he  was  not  something  better  ;  he  saw  the  game  he  had  to  play, 
and  he  resolved  to  play  it  as  skilfully  as  his  faculties  and  experience 
would  enable  him.  He  possessed  considerable  insight  into  character, 
and  sufficient  tact  to  accommodate  himself  to  the  peculiarities,  and 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  119 

avail  himself  of  the  weaknesses,  he  might  thus  discover.  Accordingly, 
his  fii'st  move  was  to  endeavonr  to  lull  Kate's  suspicions  of  him,  which 
he  saw  had  been  aroused ;  his  next  to  make  himself  by  degrees  useful 
to  hei* — necessary  to  her ;  then,  let  him  win  her  confidence  on  any 
subject  (he  would  have  been  delighted  if  she  had  told  him  the  day  of 
the  month,  or  that  she  had  dropped  a  pin,  in  confidence,  for  it  would 
have  been  a  beginning),  until  by  word,  look,  or  sign,  she  admitted 
her  indiiference  towards  her  husband,  and  then  the  game  would  be 
his  own. 

With  Mr.  Crane,  D  Almayne's  course  appeared  very  simple.  The 
millionaire's  one  clear  idea  was  the  omnipotence  of  wealth ;  he  knew 
D'Almayne  was  poor,  and  that  he  had  lent  him  money  which  he 
never  exiiected  to  be  repaid.  He  considei'ed  him  in  the  light  of  a 
sort  of  master  of  the  ceremonies,  who  could  guide  him  in  the  ways 
of  fashionable  life,  whereof  he  felt  his  ignorance — a  kind  of  iipper 
upper-servant — the  vizier  to  his  caliphship,  and  he  lent  him  money 
as  a  delicate  way  of  paying  his  wages.  At  present  D'Almayne  was 
in  high  favour  with  Mr.  Crane ;  his  wife  was  looking  very  handsome, 
quite  a  gem  of  a  wife — equal  to  his  pictures  or  his  port  wine ; 
DAlmayne  had  negotiated  his  marriage  for  him,  and  the  specula- 
tion had  been  a  successful  one ;  he  lent  D'Almayne  ^500  before  he 
had  been  in  town  a  week.  Horace  saw  it  all,  but  he  was  not  proud ; 
as  he  would  have  said,  "  It  suited  his  book  too  well,"  so  he  pocketed 
his.  wages  meekly. 

"  My  dear  Kate,  can  yoii  amuse  yourself  for  a  couple  of  hours  or  so 
alone  ?  D'Almayne  and  I  are  going  to  look  at  a  pair  of  carriage- 
horses — a — I  shall  bring  him  home  to  luncheon,  and — a — now  I 
think  of  it,  I  asked  him  to  dine  here  and  go  to  the  concert  at  the 
Hanover  Square  Rooms  with  us  afterwards ; "  and  having  thus  un- 
folded his  programme  for  the  day,  Mr.  Crane  glanced  timidly  towards 
his  wife,  to  learn  whether  it  would  receive  her  sanction  and  approval. 
There  was  a  moment's  silence,  and  then  in  a  low,  musical  voice,  Kate 
replied  coldly, — 

"  I  have  letters  to  write  this  morning,  so  the  arrangement  will 
suit  me  perfectly.  If  the  horses  are  fine  ones,  I  hope  you  will  buy 
them." 

Mr.  Crane  stroked  his  chin  (a  habit  in  which  he  indulged  when  any- 
thing pleased  him)  and  smiled.  His  wife  was  satisfied  with  him 
— happy  man  !  But  he  had  stroked  his  chin  rather  prematurely,  for, 
in  the  same  cold  tone,  Kate  resumed, — 

"  There  is  one  point  on  which  I  am  anxious  clearly,  to  understand 
you.  Is  it  your  wish  that  Mr.  D'Almayne  should  virtually  live  with 
us  ?  because,  that  he  will  do  so,  unless  some  decided  measui-es  are 
taken  to  discourage  him,  is  self-e"vident." 

This  was  a  straightforward  and  uncompromising  way  of  putting 
the  case  which  slightly  discomposed  poor  Mr.  Crane.  D'Almayne 
was,  as  we  have  said,  eminently  iisef  vil  to  his  patron,  so  much  so,  that 
at  that  precise  epoch  the  good  gentleman  would  have  been  sorely 


120  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

puzzled  how  to  get  on  without  him  ;  but  the  more  he  acknowledged 
this  in  his  secret  soul,  the  less  did  he  desire  that  any  one,  and 
especially  his  young  wife,  should  perceive  it. 

"  Well,  my  dear  Kate,"  he  began,  "  you  see  Mr.  D'Almayne  has 
turned  his  attention  to  points  which,  engaged  as  I  have  been  for 
many  years  in  commerce,  I  have  never  found  time  or  opportunity 
to  render  myself  acquainted  with." 

"  In  fact,  he  has  made  himself  necessary  to  yon,"  interposed 
Kate. 

"  No,  my  dear,  no — by  no  means  necessary — not  at  all  so  ;  but  that 
he  is  useful,  very  useful  to  me,  I  confess.  I  am  sorry  to  perceive 
that  you  have  taken  up  a  slightly  unreasonable  (if  I  may  be  permitted 
to  say  so)  prejudice  against  this  young  man." 

"Ton  are  mistaken,"  returned  Kate  calmly.  "I  am  perfectly 
indifferent  to  him.  If  it  is  your  wish  to  make  use  of  him,  he  will  of 
course  be  here  constantly  ;  but  as  yoii  have  so  kindly  yielded  to  my 
desire  that  my  friend.  Miss  Crofton,  shoidd  reside  with  us,  his 
presence  or  his  absence  will  make  little  difference  to  me — only,  if  at 
any  future  time  you  should  hear  comments  on  the  intimacy,  you  will 
remember  that  I  have  admitted  it  solely  to  gratify  you." 

Mr.  Ci'ane,  propitiated  by  this  concession,  and  by  the  grounds  on 
which  Kate  had  placed  it,  was  endeavouring  to  stroke  some  form  of 
thanksgi'S'ing  out  of  his  chin,  when  the  door  opened,  and  the  subject 
of  their  conversation  was  shown  in.  After  a  few  desultory  remarks, 
Horace,  turning  to  Mr.  Crane,  observed, — 

"  I  called  at  the  house  agent's  in  my  way  here,  and  have  obtained 
the  particulars  of  two  houses  which  it  will  be  quite  worth  your 
while  to  look  at;  one  is  in.  Belgrave  Square,  the  other  in  Park 
Lane." 

As  he  spoke  Kate  raised  her  head  and  fixed  her  large  eyes  upon 
his  face;  but  he  appeared  unconscious  of  having  deserved  her 
scrutiny,  and  was  quietly  examining  some  memoranda  he  had  written 
on  the  back  of  a  card"  regarding  the  number  of  rooms  and  other 
particulars  I'especting  the  houses.  So  perfectly  unconscious  was  his 
manner,  that  for  once  Kate's  penetration  was  at  fault.  She  re- 
membered ha\'ing  on  one  occasion,  months  befoi'e,  at  the  Grange, 
mentioned  in  his  i)resence  that  if  she  went  to  live  in  London  she 
should  prefer  either  Belgrave  Square  or  Park  Lane  for  her  residence ; 
but  whether  he  also  had  recollected  this,  or  whether  his  selection 
was  the  result  of  accident,  she  could  not  decide.  Moreover,  it  was 
not  easy  for  her  to  determine  how  to  act  in  the  matter.  If  he  had 
made  the  selection  intentionally,  and  she  allowed  it  to  pass  unnoticed, 
it  would  be  a  sort  of  tacit  admission  that  she  was  willing  to  receive 
such  secret  attentions  fi-om  him,  appreciating  them  as  kindnesses 
rather  than  resenting  them  as  impertinences ;  while,  on  the  other 
hand  if  by  any  chance  it  was  a  mere  coincidence,  she  was  unwilling 
to  afford  him  even  the  minute  triumph  of  perceiving  that  she  felt 
sufficient  interest  in  him  to  remember  whether  or  not  he  had  been 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  121 

present  on  an  occasion,  since  wliicli  sereral  montlis  had  elapsed,  or 
that  she  cared  to  know  if  he  had  observed  or  regarded  her  wishes. 
So  she  took  a  middle  course,  and,  availing'  herself  of  a  pause  in  the 
conversation,  inquired  carelessly, — 

"  Where  did  you  say  the  houses  were  situated,  Mr.  D'Almayne  ?" 
On  obtaining  the  information  she  required,  she  added,  "  And  how 
came  you  to  select  those  particular  localities  ?  " 

As  he  tunied  to  reply,  their  glances  met,  but  his  face  was  perfectly 
inscrutable. 

"  If.  as  your  tone  implies,  they  do  not  meet  your  appi-oval,  my  dear 
Mrs.  Crane,  we  need  take  no  fui-ther  trouble  in  regard  to  them,"  was 
his  ambiguous  reply.  "  I  chose  them  because  I  fancied  situations  so 
generally  popular  might  not  be  displeasing  to  you." 

Kate  was  again  foiled,  and  D Almayne,  as  he  quietly  observed  it, 
muttered  inwardly,  "  Won  the  first  trick,  at  all  events  ! " 

Mr.  Crane,  leaving  the  room  to  put  on  his  great-coat,  a  precaution 
without  which  he  was  most  careful  not  to  stir  from  home,  D'Almayne 
observed, — 

"  You  would  prefer  bay  carriage-borses  to  grey,  or  any  moi'e 
conspicuous  colour,  would  you  not  ?  " 

Surprised  at  his  having  thus  discovered  lier  taste,  Kate  was  so  far 
thrown  off  her  guard  as  to  exclaim, — 

■'  How  in  the  world  do  you  know  that  ?  " 

Horace  smiled  a  quiet  smile. 

"  I  reasoned  from  analogy,"  he  said ;  "  your  dress  is  always  rich, 
and  striking,  but  never  showy ;  and  the  effect  is  produced  by  its 
consistency  as  a  whole." 

Kate  involuntarily  returned  bis  smile ;  tact  and  keen  intelligence 
were  qualities  she  highly  appreciated. 

"  Ton  are  a  close  obsei-ver,"  she  said,  "  and  shall  be  rewarded  by 
learning  the  interesting  fact  that  I  do  prefer  bay  horses  to  those  of 
any  other  colour." 

Before  the  week  was  over,  Mr.  Crane  had  purchased  a  magnificent 
pair  of  bay  cai-riage-horses,  and  had  taken  a  lease  of  a  noble  mansion 
in  Park  Lane.  The  only  fault  Kate  could  discover  in  either  was  the 
conviction  forced  upon  her  that  it  was  to  the  agency  of  Horace 
DAlmayne  she  was  indebted  for  them. 


122  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

ADVICE   GRATIS. 

Harry  could  not  give  iip  shooting,  Han-y  wonld  not  give  up  shoot- 
ing, and  Harry  did  not  give  np  shooting.  On  the  contrary,  he  conld, 
would,  and  did  shoot  every  day,  and  all  day  long,  except  on  Sundays, 
throughout  September  and  October ;  at  least,  there  were  so  few 
exceptions  that  they  only  proved  the  rule.  Alice  did  not  like  it  at 
all;  at  first  she  was  very  miserable.  One  day  Harry  found  her 
ci-ying,  and  being  considerably  surprised  and  greatly  concerned  at 
the  unaccountable  discovery,  did  not  rest  tuitil  he  had  ascertained 
the  caiise,  when  he  was  particularly  shocked,  and  blamed  himself  so 
miich,  that  he  refrained  from  shooting  for  two  whole  days,  and 
really  would  have  striven  to  reform  his  conduct,  only  that,  unfortu- 
nately, an  invitation  arrived  to  join  a  grand  battiie  at  a  certain 
Colonel  Crossman's.  This,  in  his  then  frame  of  mind,  he  would  have 
refused ;  but  there  being  a  Mrs.  Crossman  in  the  case,  Alice  was 
included  in  the  invitation,  and  they  were  begged  to  stay  three  or 
four  days,  which,  as  Popem  Park  preserves  were  the  best  stocked  of 
any  in  the  county,  was  an  offer  not  likely  to  be  rejected.  Thus, 
xinfortunately,  they  went — we  say  unfortunately,  because  Colonel 
Crossman  Avas,  taken  as  a  whole,  a  jovial,  hot-tempered,  selfish 
brute ;  and  his  wife  a  quick-witted,  worldly-minded,  selfish  fool. 
They  did  very  well  together,  because,  as  he  usually  lived  out  of  the 
house,  and  she  in  it,  and  both  did  exactly  as  they  liked,  when  they 
liked,  their  faults  seldom  clashed ;  if  such  a  collision  did  take  place, 
there  was  an  awful  tumult,  in  which  brutality  had  his  way  for  the 
minute,  and  paid  for  it  in  minor  miseries  which  folly  inflicted  upon 
him  for  the  next  fortnight.  And  yet  this  amiable  couple  had  a  kind 
of  theoretical  and  useless  affection  for  each  other,  which  was 
engendered  partly  by  habit  and  partly  by  a  deep  and  essentially 
vulgar  reverence  for  appearances,  which,  together  with  going  to 
church  once  on  Sunday,  stood  them  in  the  stead  of  religion  and  of 
morality.  Thus  were  they  bad  counsellors  for  our  young  married 
couple.  On  the  first  morning  of  her  visit,  Alice  was  standing  at  the 
drawing-room  window,  watching  the  figm-es  of  her  husband  and 
Colonel  Crossman  striding  through  a  turnip  field  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  distant,  when  Mrs.  Crossman  joined  her. 

"Ah!  there  they  go,"  she  observed,  in  a  vinegar-aud- water 
voice ;  "  we  shall  see  no  more  of  them  till  seven  o'clock,  depend 
upon  it." 

"  Does  Colonel  Crossman  never  return  to   luncheon  ? "  inquired 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  123 

Alice  timidly,  for  she  stood  slightly  in  awe  of  ithe  female  soldier 
"beside  her. 

"  Return  to  luncheon !  "  was  the  astonished  reply,  delivered  in 
much  such  a  tone  as  might  have  been  anticipated  if  Alice  had 
inquired  whether  the  gallant  Colonel  usually  made  his  mid-day  meal 
upon  red-hot  ploughshares ;  "  come  home  to  luncheon  !  not  he.  He 
wouldn't  do  such  a  thing  to  save  my  life,  I  believe  ;  certainly  not  if 
the  scent  was  lying  well.  Why,  Mr.  Coverdale  does  not  spoil  you  in 
that  way  to  be  sm'e,  does  he  ?  The  Colonel  told  me  he  was  a  thorough 
sportsman." 

"  So  he  is,"  returned  Alice  with  a  sigh,  which  escaped  her 
involuntarily. 

"  Ah !  no  woman  with  a  heart  should  ever  mari-y  a  sportsman," 
rejoined  Mrs.  Crossman,  with  rather  more  vinegar  and  less  water  in 
her  tone  than  before.  "  Out  all  day,  from  the  first  of  September  till 
the  breeding  season  comes  round  again ;  then  the  moment  they've 
finished  dinner  and  .their  bottle  of  port  wine,  asleep  they  go,  and 
only  wake  to  stamp  and  swear  with  the  cramp  and  drop  off  again, 
till  they  tumble  iipstairs  to  bed,  and  are  no  comfort  to  anybody. 
You  are  a  young  wife  yet,  my  dear,  and  your  husband's  hardly  grown 
tired  of  you,  perhaps ;  but  wait  another  month  or  two  and  yoii'll  see 
— men  are  all  alike  ! " 

There  was  just  enough  applicability  to  her  own  case  in  this  tirade 
to  make  Alice  feel  rather  angry  and  thoroughly  uncomfortable  ;  but 
the  idea  of  comparing  Harry  with  Colonel  Crossman  was  too  bad, 
and  anger  predominated  as  she  replied,  "  Mr.  Coverdale  is  not 
quite  so  selfish  as  yoii  imagine,  my  dear  madam ;  certainly  he  left 
me  a  good  deal  alone  when  the  shooting  season  first  began,  but  as 
soon  as  he  was  aware  how  dull  and  lonely  I  felt,  he  gave  up  shooting 
for,  for—" 

"Half  a  day  ?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Crossman  sarcastically. 

"  He  did  not  go  out  for  two  whole  days,  and  since  that  he  has 
generally  returned  to  luncheon,"  replied  Alice,  colouring  from 
vexation. 

"  Wonderful ! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Crossman,  with  an  affectation  of 
extreme  surprise ;  "  actually  stayed  at  home  for  two  whole  days, 
when  he's  been  married  as  many  months — what  a  model  man !  Not 
that  I  believe  Colonel  Crossman  ever  did  so  much  as  that  even,"  she 
continued,  turning  on  the  vinegar.  "  I  picked  him  iip  in  India,  you 
know— was  actually  weak  enough  to  fall  in  love  with  the  creature  ! 
even  went  the  length  of  refusing  two  district  judges  and  the  resident 
at  Bamboozle  for  his  sake !  And  would  you  believe  it,  we  hadn't 
been  married  above  a  week,  when  the  man  was  brute  enough  to  go 
out  hog-hunting  and  leave  me  all  by  myself  at  Boshbogie,  on  the 
borders  of  the  great  Flurry-yunghal  Jungle,  with  nothing  more 
conversable  than  tawneys  and  tigers  within  thirty  miles  of  me ;  but, 
however,  I  was  not  long  before  I  learned  how  to  take  care  of  myself 
— and  the   sooner  you  do  the  same,  my  dear,  the  better  for  your 


124  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

happiness.  Men  are  easily  enough  managed  if  you  do  but  set  the 
right  way  to  work.  If  you  choose  to  he  always  humble  and  meek  to 
'em,  they'll  let  you  lie  down  for  them  to  wipe  their  boots  on,  but  if 
you  only  show  them  you've  got  a  spirit  of  your  own,  and  don't  cai-e 

for  'em " 

"  But  I  don't  know  that  I  have  got  what  you  call  a  spirit  of  my 
own,"  interrupted  Alice,  smiling  at  her  companion's  vehemence, 
"  and  I  certainly  do  care  about  my  husband." 

"  Ah,  my  dear,  that's  all  very  well  now  ;  but  wait  a  bit — wait  till 
some  day  when  he  wants  to  go  shooting,  and  you  want  him  to  do 
something  else,  and  then  see  of  how  much  use  your  meekness  and 
fondness  will  be  to  you.     He  will  think  to  himself,  '  Oh  !  she  will  be 
just  as  well  pleased  a  couple  of  hours  hence,  as  if  I  had  lost  my  day's 
sport  for  her  silly  nonsense.'    I  know  he  will,  men  are  all  alike. 
No  ;  sooner  or  later  you'll  find  you  will  have  to  pluck  up  a  spirit,  and 
treat  your  husband  as  he  will  treat  you.    If  he  leaves  you  by  yoiu-self 
all  day,  fill  your  house  with  company ;  if  he  goes  out  shooting  and 
hunting  with  his  friends,  do  you  go  out  riding  or  dri\ing  with  yours  ; 
if  he  has  his  season  in  the  country,  do  you  have  yoiu's  in  London  ; 
operas  and  shopping  are  amusements  you've  just  as  good  a  right  to 
as  he  has  to  go  popping  at  the  partridges  and  pheasants ;  and  if  you 
care  so  much  about  keeping  him  at  home,  hook  some  young  dandy 
(there  will  be  plenty  ready  to  nibble  when  such  a  bait  as  your  pretty 
face  is  hung  out  for  them),  and  flii-t  with  him  steadily  till  the  desired 
eifect  is  produced.     That  will  bring  your  husband  to  his  senses,  if 
anything  will.    I  once  settled  the  Colonel  in  three  days  by  going  all 
respectable  lengths  with  Adolphiis  Fitz-duckling.    It  led  to  a  duel, 
though ;  biit  that  was  because  both  Duck  and  Grossman  were  army 
men  and  mixed  up  with  a  fighting  set.     I  took  care  never  to  go  quite 
so  far  again,  except  with  a  civilian ;  but  then  I  hadn't  got  such  a 
quiet,   demure  manner  as  you  have.    A  set   of    impudent  yoimg 
puppies  in  the  Old  43rd  used  to  call  me  '  Flii-ting  Fan.'    However, 
1  can  tell  you  I  was  able  to  keep  the  Colonel  in  much  better  order, 
'  flirting  him  down,'  as  I  used  to  call  it,  than  I've  ever  managed  to 
do  since  I  grew  old — that  is,  less  young  than  I  was  at  that  time." 
And  so  this  good  woman,  or  rather  this  woman  who,  despite  her 
favdts,  had  some  good  in  her,  whereby  she  rindicated  her  title  to 
humanity,  ran  on  until  Alice  heariily  wished  her  back  again  amongst 
the  ta^vTieys  or  the  tigers ;    we  ai*e  afraid  that  at  that    esf)ecial 
moment  our  little  heroine  would  decidedly  have  prefeiTcd  the  latter. 
In  the  meantime,  Harry  and  the  Colonel  wei'e  blazing  away  at  the 
long-tails  most  unmercifully,  Harry,  who  was  a  crack  shot,  bringing 
down  everything  he  pointed  his  gun  at,  while  the  Colonel,  whose 
hand  had  an  awkward  trick  of  shaking,  as  if  its  proprietor  was  in 
the  habit  of  imbibing  too  much  port  wine,  missed  much  oftener  than 
was    agreeable    to    him,    on  each  of    which  several  occasions    he 
attributed  his  failure   to,   and  condemned  in  no  measured  terms 
either  the  gun,  or  the  bird,  or  both.    About  two  o'clock  Han-y  pulled 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  125 

©tit  his  watch,  and  glancing  at  it  obsei-ved,  "  I  don't  know  what  your 
aiTangements  may  be,  Colonel,  but  if  Mrs.  Grossman  is  of  as  sociable 
a  disposition  as  my  little  wife,  she  will  consider  ns  great  bears  if  we 
don't  return  till  dinner  time." 

At  this  moment  a  splendid  cock-pheasant  rose,  *"  whirring  "  into 
the  air  at  some  considerable  distance  from  the  sportsmen,  whereupon 
the  Colonel,  considering  it  a  difficult  shot,  called  out,  "  Your  bu-d, 
Coverdale."  Han-y,  embarrassed  with  his  watch,  which  he  still  held 
in  his  hand,  i*aised  his  gun,  and  catching  his  finger  in  the  guard 
chain,  pulled  the  trigger  too  soon,  and  missed  with  both  barrels, 
while  the  Colonel,  seeing  that  the  pheasant  was  now  so  far  off  that  it 
could  be  no  discredit  to  miss  it,  pulled  at  it,  and  by  accident  brought 
it  down. 

"  Bravo  !  Colonel,  that  is  the  cleverest  shot  that  has  been  made 
to-day  by  long  odds  !  "  ejaculated  Harry. 

"  Ah  !  that's  a  trifle  to  what  I  used  to  do  when  I  was  yoiu-  age," 
was  the  slightly  apocryphal  reply  ;  "  nothing  with  feathers  or  hair 
on  it  had  a  chance,  if  I  put  my  gun  up  at  it,  I  can  tell  you.  But 
what  were  you  saying  about  going  home  ?  why,  I'm  just  getting  into 
shooting  order !  you're  not  knocking  up,  to  be  siire,  already." 

"  No ;  nor  six  hours'  more  hard  walking  would  not  do  it,"  i-eturned 
HaiTy,  laughing,  as  he  mentally  contrasted  his  own  powers  with 
those  of  the  Colonel,  who,  although  he  had  carefully  assigned  all  the 
toughest  of  the  work  to  his  guest,  was  evidently  beginning  "  to  want 
his  corn,"  as  Coverdale  metaphorically  paraphrased  the  fact  of  his 
entertainer's  requiring  his  luncheon.  "  I  merely  asked  you  whether 
Mrs.  Crossman  would  not  disapprove  of  our  remaining  out  all 
day?" 

"  Mrs.   Crossman  may  go    and  hang    herself   in    her   own 

petticoat  strings  !  "  was  the  uncoiuteous  rejoinder.  "  Ah  !  I  see  how 
it  is,"  continued  the  "  old  soldier."  "  I  see  all  about  it :  you're  a 
young  hand  yet,  Coverdale,  and  I'm  an  old  one ;  take  my  advice. 
You've  man-ied  a  nice  gal,  and  a  pretty  gal — don't  you  go  and  spoil 
her ;  it's  the  nature  of  women  to  like  to  have  their  own  way ;  and 
one  of  their  ways — and  a  most  aggravating  and  unaccountable  one  it 
is — is  always  to  have  a  fellow  dangling  about  after  them,  and  there 
they'll  keep  him  driving  'em  out,  or  riding  with  'em,  or  dawdling  in 
shops,  and  paying  their  bills  for  'em — they  don't  forget  that,  mind 
you — or  reading  to  'em,  or  some  such  confounded  humbug.  Hang 
it,  sir,  I'd  sooner  be  a  galley-slave  or  a  black  nigger  at  once  !  Well, 
if  yoii  begin  by  indulging  a  woman  (they're  all  alike  in  such  points), 

she'll  be  yoiu*  master  ever  after,  and  youi*  life  won't  be  worth  a " 

(As  we  do  not  know  the  exact  value  of  the  coin  to  which  the  Colonel 
alluded,  we  abstain  from  a  moi-e  particular  mention  of  it.)  "  No  ;  if 
you're  to  have  any  peace  or  comfort  in  the  maified  state,  you  must 
let  your  wife  see  that  you're  determined  to  show  you're  the  superior. 
The  only  way  to  do  it  effectually  is — come  to  heel.  Countess,  ah ! 
would  you  then !  "  (and  whack,  whack,  went  the  dog- whip  against 


126  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

poor  Countess's  sides) — "tlie  only  way  to  break  'em  in  is — (whack) — 
to  show  'em  clearly  whose  will  is  the  strongest,  and  whose  must 
yield.  I  had  trouble  enough  with  Mrs.  Grossman,  I  can  assure  you. 
She  was  not  an  easy  woman  to  break  in,  sir ;  but  she  found  she'd 
met  her  match.  If  she  scolded,  I  stormed  ;  if  she  raved,  I  swore;  if 
she  sulked,  I  whistled ;  if  she  cried,  I  lit  a  cigar ;  if  she  fainted,  I 
laid  her  on  the  hardest  board  that  I  could  i)ick  out  in  the  floor,  and 
smoked  till  she  came  round  again.  The  only  time  she  went  into 
hysterics  I  flung  a  pail  of  cold  water  over  her— that  cured  her  at 
once  and  for  ever.  I  dare  say  you  think  me  an  old  brute,  but  the 
day  will  come  when  you'll  recollect  my  advice,  and  be  glad  enough 
to  act  upon  it.    Women  are  all  alike,  more  or  less." 

Harry  did  think  him  an  old  brute,  and  thanked  his  stars  that 
neither  in  mind  nor  in  person  did  Alice  in  the  smallest  degree 
resemble  Mrs.  Grossman ;  he  also  thought  that  he  should  never 
remember  the  Golonel's  advice  with  any  other  feeling  than  disgust. 
Ah !  Harry — Harry  ! 


GHAPTER  XXIV. 

A   STORM  BREWING. 

Harry  !  My  dear  Harry ! — Wilkins,  where  is  your  master  ?  I  told 
you  I  must  speak  to  him  before  he  went  out,  and  now  you've  let  him 
go  without " 

"  Wilkins  !  where  the  d Oh !  Wilkins,  what  did  you  do  with 

that  bag  of  snipe-shot  I  brought  down  from  London  ?  " 

Thus  apostrophized  by  an  agitated  soprano  at  the  drawing-room 
door,  and  an  impatient  tenore  robusto  in  the  entrance-hall,  Wilkins, 
the  amiable  and  timid  London  butler,  who  had  played  the  character  of 
Job's  comf  oi-ter  to  Alice's  "  Didone  abandonata  "  on  the  memorable 
evening  of  the  first  of  September,  made  two  or  thi-ee  steps  in  the 
direction  of  the  drawing-room,  then  twisting  round  with  a  sudden 
jerk,  as  though  he  had  been  worked  by  machinery  with  which 
somebody  was  playing  tricks,  rushed  frantically  into  the  hall,  and 
handing  his  master  a  wi'ong  bag  of  shot  exclaimed,  without  any 
breath  left, — 

"  This — a — is  them,  sir ;  and  my  mistress — a — says " 

"  Swan-shot,  you  fool — that  is,  Wilkins,  big  enough  to  roll  over  a 
bxxllock  !  It's  the  snipe-shot  I'm  looking  for.  No,  not  that.  Don't 
you  know  snipe-shot  when  you  see  it  ?  When  the  scent's  getting 
duller  every  miniite,  too !    I  ought  to  have  been  out  these  two  hours. 


-0' 


"»*viu         f 


.1  ra^ 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  127 

That's  right,  my  good  fellow  ;  don't  he  a  month  about  it — give  it  me. 
I  shall  be  home  to  dinner." 

"  But  my  mistress  particularly  wishes  to  speak "  faltered  poor 

Wilkins.  HaiTy,  flinging  down  with  an  angry  gesture  the  shot-belt 
he  had  just  filled,  and  muttering  that  he  had  better  give  up  going 
out  at  all,  strode  off  to  the  drawing-room,  and  putting  his  head  in 
through  the  partially  opened  door,  as  though  he  were  afraid  of 
being  taken  prisoner  if  he  trusted  himself  bodily  in  the  apartment, 
exclaimed, — 

'■  Now.  then,  little  woman,  what  is  it  ?  Quick,  please,  for  I  want 
to  be  off." 

"  There  is  an  invitation  just  amved  fi'om  AUerton  House  for 
Tuesday  week.     What  am  I  to  say  ?  " 

"  Oh.  we  must  go,  of  com-se.  I  want  you  to  get  intimate  with 
Lady  Allei-ton,  she's  a  charming  woman,  and  Lord  George  is  a  good 
little  fellow  in  his  way,  though  an  awfully  bad  shot.  Dinner,  I 
suppose  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but,  HaiTy,  wait  one  moment  and  listen  to  me ! "  exclaimed 
Alice.  ''You  need  not  be  in  such  a  hurry;  you  will  have  plenty  of 
time  for  that  hoirid  shooting  before  six  o'clock." 

"■  Hon-id  shooting,  indeed  I  Much  you  know  about  it,"  muttered 
the  victimized  spoi"tsman,  inwardly  chafing  at  the  delay ;  "  it  will  be 
hoiTid  shooting  in  one  sense,  if  I  am  hindered  much  longer.  The 
scent  won't  lie  when  the  dew  is  off,  and  I  may  as  well  go  out  with 
a  walking-stick  as  with  a  gun,  for  there  will  be  nothing  to  shoot  at." 
"  Well,  I'll  let  you  go  dii-ectly,  you  impatient,  siUy  boy,"  returned 
Alice,  smiling  at  the  serious,  business-like  view  her  husband  took  of 
his  amusement.  "  The  only  thing  I  wish  to  say  is,  that  if  we  accept 
this  invitation,  we  shall  be  almost  certain  to  meet  the  Duke  and 
Duchess  of  Bi'entwood  there ;  and  j'ou  know  I've  been  waiting  for 
you  to  go  with  me.  day  after  day,  and  I've  never  returned  their  visit 
yet.  You  must  take  me  to  call  before  Tuesday  week  ;  I've  been  quite 
rude  already." 

"  All  right."  returned  Hany ;  "  we'll  go  in  style,  and  call  on  the  old 
duchess.  I'll  wear  a  red  coat,  and  stick  a  peacock's  feather  in  my 
hat,  if  that  will  please  you.  It's  a  pity  she's  so  like  a  chimpanzee ! 
Most  probably  she  is  related  to  the  monkey  tribe — suppose  we  ask 
her  when  we  call ;  it  will  be  a  new  and  original  style  of  conversation, 
eh  ?  Well,  ta-ta  !  It's  so  late  now  that  I'm  afraid  you  won't  have 
the  felicity  of  seeing  me  again  till  dinner  time ;  "  and  without 
allowing  his  wife  an  opportunity  of  remonstrating,  Harry  closed  the 
door,  and  was  soon  paying  off  the  long-bills  in  a  way  in  which  they 
scarcely  approved  of  having  their  "  little  accounts  "  settled.  Alice 
watched  him  depart  with  a  smile,  .which  faded  into  a  sigh  as  she 
tm-ned  to  write  an  acceptance  to  the  dinner  invitation,  and  then 
employ  and  amuse  herself  as  best  she  might  dui-ing  the  weary  houi-s 
which  must  elapse  ere  her  husband  would  retxu-n. 
Lord  Allerton  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of 


128  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

Brentwood,  who  were  the  great  people, '  par  excellence,'  of  the  Cover- 
dale  Park  neighbourhood ;  and  when  the  Duke  and  Duchess  came 
to  spend  then*  Christmas  in  the  country,  Alice,  stimiilated  thereunto 
by  the  conversation  of  the  Mesdames  Jones,  Brown,  and  Robinson 
of  those  parts,  felt  slightly  curious  to  know  whether  these  ancient 
and  venerable  limbs  of  the  aristocracy  would  deign  to  honour  her  by  a 
call,  and  was  iDroportionably  gratified  and  bored  when,  on  a  di-eary 
morning,  the  dull  old  Duchess  came  and  paid  her  a  singularly  heavy 
and  iminteresting  visit.  To  induce  Hai-ry  to  accompany  her  when  she 
returned  this  equally  flattering  and  alarming  civility  had  been  for 
several  days  the  sole  object  of  Alice's  existence, — an  object  in  which, 
as  the  reader  may  perceive  by  the  foregoing  conversation,  she  had 
hitherto  been  unsuccessful. 

The  next  morning  Alice  once  again  made  an  attempt  to  entice  her 
better  half  away  from  the  pleasures  of  the  plains  ;  but  the  rabbits 
had  begun  barking  the  iyoung  ash-trees  in  a  favourite  plantation, 
and  were  to  be  "  pulled  down  "  accordingly.  This  occupation  lasted 
several  days,  at  the  expiration  of  which  period  certain  poachers, 
choosing  to  join  in  the  ami;sement  uninvited,  had  to  be  "  pulled  up  " 
for  their  iniquities — a  series  of  ups  and  downs  which  left  only  two 
days  vacant  before  the  impox'tant  Tuesday  dedicated  to  the  dinner- 
party at  Allerton  would  an-ive.  The  first  of  these  days  it  rained 
cats  and  dogs,  and  snowed  fragments  of  polar  bears  so  decidedly, 
that  even  Han-y  could  not  get  out  till  about  half -past  three,  when, 
in  desperation,  he  enveloped  himself  in  a  macintosh,  and  galloped 
over  to  the  town,  five  miles  off  (as  aD  to^vns  are  from  all  country 
houses),  to  match  some  ribbon  for  Alice  and  look  at  the  newspaper 
on  his  own  account.  The  "  County  Press  "  was  just  out,  and  therein 
Harry  ijerceived  a  leading  article  attacking  the  decision  an-ived  at 
by  himself  and  his  brother  magistrates  in  the  case  of  the  "  pulled 
up  "  poachers.  This  being  equally  irritating  and  interesting,  he  sat 
down  in  the  reading-room  of  the  librai-y  diligently  to  peruse  the 
same — phsa-ing,  pish-ing,  and  ".confounding  the  fellow  "  at  every 
second  line.  He  had  just  got  to  a  paragi-aph  beginning,  "  Mr. 
C — d — le  may  be  well  qualified  to  lead  the  way  across  a  stiff  line  of 
country  after  the  hounds,  or  roll  over  unoffending  hares  and  rabbits 
in  a  battue — but  that  is  no  proof  that  he  possesses  an  equal  right 
to  ride  rough-shod  over  the  enactments  of  a  British  Parliament,  or 
to  ovei-turn  the  decrees  of  abler  lawyers  than  are  to  be  foimd  among 

the  bench  of  magistrates  at  H ,"  when  a  large  hand  was  placed 

over  his  eyes,  and  a  loud,  jovial  voice  exclaimed, — 

"  Never  mind,  Harry,  my  boy — little  Flipkins  the  editor's  got  a 
wife  with  the  devil's  own  temper,  and  she  helps  him  to  write  the 
leaders ;  she  took  a  dislike  to  you  when  she  was  Miss  Jamby,  and 
kept  the  confectioner's  shop,  when  you  neglected  her,  and  flirted 
with  the  girl  behind  the  counter,  because  she  happened  to  be  the 
prettiest,  and  now  she's  paying  you  off ;  you  can't  horsewhip  ^a 
woman,  you  knoAv,  so  you'd  better  take  it  easy." 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  129 

Before  the  speaker  had  arrived  at  the  conclusion  of  his  advice 
gratis,  Coverdale  had  removed  the  hand  which  impeded  his  vision, 
and  turning  round,  exclaimed, — 

"Why,  it's  Tom  Rattleworth,  by  all  that's  extraordinary— I 
thought  you  were  in  Canada,  with  your  regiment,  man  ! " 

"  So  I  was  till  the  gout  can-ied  ofE  the  governor,  and  left  me  a 
miserable  orphan  with  ^15,000  a  year  in  my  pocket.  When  that 
lamentable  event  occui-red  I  thought  I  was,  for  the  first  time  in 
my  life,  worth  taking  care  of,  so  determined  to  cut  the  red  cloth 
and  pipe-clay  business,  and  come  home  and  live  virtuously    ever 

after." 

"  You  seem  to  have  recovered  your  spirits  pretty  well,  if  one  may 
judge  by  present  appearances,"  returned  Coverdale,  half-amused, 
half-disgusted  at  his  quondam  friend's  sentiments—"  at  all  events 
you've  not  grown  thin  upon  it." 

"  No !  but  that's  the  very  fact  which  proves  how  deeply  I  feel  my 
forlorn  condition;  it's  old  FalstafE— is  it  not— observes  how  grief 
swells  a  man  ?  I  don't  ride  a  pound  under  twelve  stone,"  was  the 
rejoinder.  "  By  the  way,"  continued  Rattleworth,  "  that  reminds  me 
—it's  deucedly  lucky  I  met  you ;  you're  the  very  man  that  can  tell 
me  all  about  it— Broomfield  is  anxious  to  give  up  the  fox-hounds ; 
he  is  gi-owing  old  and  lazy,  and  he  wants  me  to  take  'em." 

"My  dear  fellow,  I'm  delighted  to  hear  it,"  exclaimed  Harry 
eagerly  ;  "  old  Broomfield  is  completely  past  his  work,  and  of  all  the 
men  I  know  you're  the  fittest  to  succeed  him— you  will  do  the 
thing  as  it  ought  to  be  done.  I  should  have  undertaken  them  my- 
self, if  I  had  not  become  a  Benedict :  Broomfield  tried  to  persuade 

me." 

"  Well  now  look  here,"  resumed  Rattleworth,  meditatively  ;  "  I've 
promised  to  meet  Broomfield  to-mon-ow,  and  take  his  horses  and 
evei-ything  at  a  valuation.  Now  there  is  not  a  man  in  the  county 
whose  opinion  aboiit  a  horse  I'd  sooner  have  than  yours ;  can  you 
spare  time  to  go  with  me  ?  I  shall  really  consider  it  a  personal 
favour  if  you  -w-ill  do  so." 

"  Of  course  I  will."  returned  Harry  ;  for  if  he  had  a  weak  point  on 
which  he  was  accessible  to  flattery,  it  was  conceming  his  knowledge 
of  horse-flesh ;  "  there  can  be  nothing  I  should  like  better,  in  f act— 
what  time  do  you  go  ?  " 

"  I  was  to  lunch  with  him  at  one,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  and  we  were  to 
look  at  his  stud  afterwards." 

"  Then  I'll  meet  you  at  the  cross  roads  by  Hanger  Wood,  at  half- 
past  twelve."  returned  Han-y ;  and  so,  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the 
hand,  the  friends  parted. 

Tom  Rattleworth  was  the  only  son  of  a  man  who  had  begun  life 

as  a  land-agent  and  attorney  in  H ;  but  having  very  early  in  his 

career  dabbled  in  stock-jobbing  till  he  made  a  considerable  sum  of 
money,  which  his  business  connection  enabled  him  to  lay  out  to  great 
advantage,  he  gi-ew  rich,  purchased  an  estate,  married  into  one  of  the 

K 


130  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

county  families,  and  brought  his  son  up  "  as  a  gentleman "' — that  is, 
he  sent  him  to  Eton,  where  he  learned  nothing  but  how  to  get  into 
and  out  of  scrapes  ;  and  bought  him  a  commission  which  he  would 
have  done  better  without.  Nature  having  thus  ])laced  a  silver  spoon 
in  Tom's  mouth,  appeared  to  consider  his  head  sufficiently  furnished 
without  going  to  any  unusual  expense  in  the  article  of  brains  ;  so  she 
gave  him  barely  an  average  quantity,  and  made  up  the  deficiency  by 
an  actual  passion  for  horse-flesh.  Thomas,  thus  endowed,  was  the 
schoolfellow  and  holiday  associate  of  Harry  Coverdale  ;  and  having 
one,  and  only  one  taste  in  common,  they  had  kept  up  their  intimacy, 
until  HaiTy  started  on  his  gi'and  toi^r,  and  Tom  was  sent  with  his 
regiment  to  Canada,  since  which  period  the  inter\'iew  we  have  just 
described  was  their  first  meeting. 

As  Coverdale  cantered  home  through  the  mud,  and  rain,  and  sleet, 
it  suddenly  flashed  across  him  that  the  next  was  the  only  day 
remaining  in  which  to  call  on  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Brentwood 
before  the  dinner  at  AUerton  House ;  and  his  conscience  smote  him 
as  he  reflected  that  the  engagement  he  had  formed  would  prevent 
him  from  accompanying  Alice ;  indeed,  so  annoyed  did  he  feel  at 
thisimlucky  coincidence,  that  for  a  moment  he  was  on  the  point  of 
turning  his  horse's  head,  and  liding  after  Tom  Rattleworth  to  get 
off  the  engagement ;  but  it  was  growing  dusk,  and  he  reflected  that 
Chase  Hall,  the  residence  of  the  renowned  Thomas,  was  so  far  otit  of 
his  way  that  he  should  be  iinable  to  reach  home  by  dinner-time,  and 
then  Alice  would  get  fi-ightened  about  him,  which  would  annoy  her 
more  than  being  obliged  to  pay  hei-  visit  alone ;  so  with  this  bit  of 
sophisti-y  he,  for  the  moment,  quieted  his  conscience.  Before  he 
an-ived  at  his  own  house,  he  had  mentally  decided  that,  as  it  would 
only  worry  his  wife,  he  should  say  nothing  about  the  Rattleworth 
engagement  to  her  that  evening,  and  that  in  the  moniing  he  should 
mention  it  as  an  equally  unfortunate  and  unavoidable  necessity, 
and  persuade  her  to  pay  the  first  visit  without  him.  Of  course 
she  would  be  a  little  annoyed  just  at  first,  but  she  was  so  sweet- 
tempered  and  amiable,  that — that — and  here  his  reflections  refused 
to  clothe  themselves  in  intelligible  language; — had  they  done  so 
honestly,  the  sentence  would  have  ended  thus — "  that  she  would 
submit  without  making  a  scene."  And  so  he  cantered  home,  where 
Alice,  with  her  sunny  smile  and  bright  loving  eyes,  was  waiting 
to  receive  him,  and  made  a  vast  fuss  with  the  poor  dear  liecause 
he  must  be  so  wet,  which,  thanks  to  Mr.  Macintosh — his  admirable 
invention— he  was  not  in  the  slightest  degi-ee,  though  he  appreciated 
the  affectionate  fuss  Alice  made  about  him  all  the  same. 

Han-y  !  you  blind,  stupid  Hairy  ! — as  if  her  little  finger,  bless  it, 
were  not  worth  all  the  horse-flesh  that  ever  was  foaled,  fi-om 
Bucephalus,  down  to  the  winner  of  the  last  Derby. 

The  next  morning  was  a  very  fine  one.  Alice  and  HaiTy  made 
their  appearance  in  the  breakfast  parlour  about  nine  o'clock ;  each 
was  a  little  out  of  sorts.     Alice,  not  having  been  able  to  get  any  air 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  131 

or  exercise  on  the  previous  day,  had  waked  with  a  headache,  which 
Han-y  continually  forgetting',  would  leave  the  door  of  his  di'essins:- 
room  open,  and  attire  himself  to  the  tune  of  "  A  hunting  we  will  go." 
Then  a  new  morning  gown,  on  which  Miss  Flippery,  the  dressmaker 

at  H ,  had  staked  her  credit,  did  not  fit,  and  in  turning  round  to 

look  at  the  set  of  the  back,  Alice  trod  on  the  skirt,  and  tore  it  out  of 
the  "  gathers  " — whatever  they  may  be  ;  and  as  women  seldom  swear, 
and  the  evil  was  scarcely  serious  enough  to  cry  over,  poor  little  Mrs. 
Coverdale  was  unable  to  vent  her  annoyance,  and  brought  it  down 
to  breakfast  with  her  accordingly.  Harry,  on  the  other  hand, 
conscious  that  he  was  about  to  commit  an  act  of  injustice,  on  which 
(although  he  repented  of  it  suflBciently  to  feel  very  uncomfortable) 
he  was  still  determined,  tried  to  keep  up  his  courage  by  affecting  a 
degree  of  hilarity  which  caused  him  to  make  bad  jokes  about  every 
subject  mentioned,  and  to  evince  such  a  total  want  of  sympathy 
with  his  wife's  headache  and  consequent  depression  of  spirits,  that 
Alice  for  the  first  time  in  her  life  considered  him  tiresome  and  in 
the  way,  and  felt  inclined  to  say  sharp  things  to  him  and  snub  him. 
After  a  longish  pause,  inten-upted  only  when,  on  two  occasions, 
Harry  was  pulled  xip  for  whistling,  and  a  third  time  for  beating 
the  devil's  tattoo  on  the  chimney-piece,  Alice  began,  *"  Really  Wilkins 
has  taken  to  buraing  the  toast  so  black,  it  is  impossible  to  eat  it.  I 
wish  you  would  speak  to  him  about  it,  HaiTy." 

"  Certainly,  my  love,"  was  the  cheei-ful  reply ;  "  what  shall  I  say 
to  him  ?  That  although  I  approve  of  his  blacking  my  boots,  I  dis- 
approve of  his  blacking  my  toast,  and  that  I  shall  tha,nk  him  to  do  it 
brown  in  future  ?  " 

'*  If  you  like  to  risk  the  chance,  which  is  almost  a  cei"tainty,  that 
the  man  will  misunderstand  you,  for  the  sake  of  making  a  stupid 
slang  pun,  I  advise  you  to  do  so,"  was  the  captious  reply. 

'■  Phew ! "  whistled  Harry ;  "  how  solemn,  and  sensible,  and 
serious  we've  gi'O^vn  all  of  a  sudden !  I  beg  to  inform  you,  Mrs. 
Coverdale,  that  I  expect  my  wife  to  admire  my  puns,  if  nobody  else 
does." 

"  Then  you  must  contrive  to  make  better  ones,  and  to  time  them 
rather  more  appropriately,"  rejoined  Alice,  so  snappishly,  that  her 
hiisband  looked  up  in  surprise.  Recalled  to  herself  by  the  un- 
mistakable astonishment  depicted  on  the  bright,  good-natured 
countenance  of  her  better  half,  Alice  continued  in  a  milder  tone, 
'*  You  must  not  mind  what  I  say  this  morning,  Hany,  dear,  my 
headache  makes  me  so  dreadfully  cross  and  stupid." 

"  Poor  little  thing  !  you  were  shut  up  all  yesterday,  you  know,  and 
that  is  enough  to  give  anybody  a  headache,"  returned  Hariy,  who 
considered  houses  were  built  only  to  dine  and  sleep  in.  and  would 
have  had  Alice  spend  her  days  "al  fresco,"  even  as  he  delighted  to  do. 
"  You  must  go  out  as  much  as  possible  to-day ;  luckily  it  is  very 
fine" 

'■  Yes;  and  I  am  to  be  honoured  with  my  husband's  company  too, 


132  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

which  is  a  most  unaccustomed  pleasure,"  rejoined  Alice,  brightening' 
up  at  the  recollection.  ''  It  is  certainly  very  jjood  policy  to  make 
youi-self  so  scarce,  though  I  Avish  you  did  not  adhei-e  quite  so 
strictly  to  it;  why  you  have  not  driven  out  with  me  since  we 
returned  from  Popem  Park  !  At  what  time  do  you  mean  to  order 
the  carriage  ?  " 

"Why  it's  an  hour's  drive  at  least;  James  had  better  be  at  the 
door  by  two  o'clock,"  replied  Han-y.  Then  turning  towards  the  fire, 
and  moving  the  ornaments  on  the  chimney-piece  into  wrong  posi- 
tions, he  continued,  with  an  elaborate  attempt  at  nonchalance,  which 
veiled  most  inefficiently  his  consciousness  that  he  was  about  to 
perform  an  act  against  which  his  moral  sense  rebelled,  he  resumed  : 
'■  I'm  afraid,  my  love,  that  I  must  ask  you  to  call  upon  the  Duchess 
of  Brentwood  without  me  this  morning — a  lousiness  engagement 
of — a — importance — that  is,  one  that  I  cannot  avoid,  will,  I  am 
afraid " 

And  here  he  broke  off  abniptly,  for,  glancing  at  his  wife,  he 
l^erceived  an  expression  in  her  pretty  face  that  he  had  never  beheld 
thex'e  before  ;  the  bright  eyes  were  flashing,  the  soft  cheeks  biu-ned. 
and  the  coral  lij)s  pouted  with  unmistakable  anger.  Han-y  had  at 
length  gone  too  far.  and  his  sweet-tempered,  loWug-heai-ted  little 
wife  was  positively  and  seriously  angry  with  him.  But  so  unusual  a 
circumstance  demands  a  fresh  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE   STORM   BURSTS. 

Alice  Coverdale,  annoyed  and  pained  by  what  she  considered 
her  husband's  injustice  and  unkindness,  did  not  leave  him  long  in 
doubt  as  to  her  feelings  upon  the  subject ;  for  as  soon  as  she  could 
conquer  a  choking  sensation  in  the  throat  sufficiently  to  speak,  she 
exclaimed, — 

''  Really,  Hany,  I  must  say  you  are  most  imkind  and  incon- 
siderate ;  you  chose  of  youi-  own  accord  to  accept  the  iiiA-itation  to 
Allerton  House,  though  I  warned  you  at  the  time  that  it  would 
necessitate  your  calling  on  the  Duke  and  Duchess  first :  you  agreed 
— in  fact  you  promised  to  do  so.  There  has  not  been  a  day  since 
that  I  haven't  reminded  you  of  this  promise,  so  it  is  impossible  you 
can  have  forgotten  it ; — there  was  a  time,  and  not  so  very  long  ago- 
either,  when  you  were  ready  enough  to  go  anywhere  with  me,  and 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  133 

were  only  too  glad  to  find  I  wished  yoii  to  do  so.  I  little  thought, 
poor  foolish  gii-1  that  I  was,  how  soon  things  would  alter  ;  and  now, 
when  you  knew  as  well  as  I  did  that  this  is  the  last  day  on  which  we 
can  pay  this  visit,  you've  f  omied  some  stupid  engagement  (to  go  and 
shoot  somewhere,  I  dare  say ;  I  wish  gi;ns  had  never  been  invented — 
hon-id  dangerous  things— always  going  off  unexpectedly  and  killing 
people),  and  so  made  it  impossible  to  retuni  the  Duchess's  call :  and 
to-morrow  I  shall  be  ashamed  to  look  her  in  the  face,  or  to  speak  to 
her ;  though  I  dare  say  she  won't  give  me  a  chance  to  do  that,  for 
she  is  as  proud  as  Lu as  a  woman  can  be." 

Here,  from  sheer  want  of  breath,  Alice  being  forced  to  pause, 
HaiTy  qiiietly  remarked :  "  Women  can  be  as  proud  as  men  for  that 
matter,  '  ecce  signum  ' ;  but  now  just  listen  to  a  little  common  sense 
for  a  minute.    I  fully  intended  and  wished  to  accompany  you,  but  I 

happened  yesterday,  at  H ,  to  meet  with  a  very  old  fi-iend  of 

mine,  who  informed  me  tliat  he  was  going  this  morning  to  transact 
ceiiain  business  matters  which  would  involve  the  expenditure  of  a 
considerable  sum  of  money,  in  regard  to  which  aifair  he  particularly 
required  my  advice  and  opinion." 

"  He  must  be  going  to  buy  a  gun  or  a  horse  then,"  intemipted 
Alice ;  "  those  are  the  only  things  people  imagine  you  understand  ; 
and  I  don't  wonder  at  them  either,  when  they  see  you  waste  half 
your  life  about  this  horrid  sporting.  If  yoia  give  up  all  intellectual 
pursuits  in  this  way.  you'll  go  on  till  you  become  fit  for  nothing  biit 
to  himt,  shoot,  eat,  drink,  and  sleep,  like  that  dreadfiil  old  creature, 
Colonel  Grossman." 

Thoroughly  provoked  by  this  last  speech  (which  touched  on  a 
sensitive  point  in  Han-y's  disposition,  and  aroused  a  latent  fear,  by 
which  he  was  always  more  or  less  oppressed,  lest  people  should 
consider  him,  from  his  fondness  for  field  sports,  a  mere  addle-pated, 
fox-hunting  squire),  he  replied,  with  more  asperity  in  his  tone  than 
he  had  ever  before  used,  or  believed  it  possible  he  could  use,  towards 
Alice,  "  Take  care  you  don't  become  a  peevish  shrew,  like  Mrs. 
Crossman.  You  are  angi-y,  and  foi-get  yourself ;  when  you  gi-ow 
calm  again,  you  will  perceive  how  foolish  and  unreasonable  you  have 
been  to  lose  your  temper  about  such  a  silly  ti-ifle." 

"  You  think  being  i-ude  to  your  friends  and  unkind  to  your  wife  a 
silly  trifle,  do  you  ?  ''  inquired  Alice. 

HaiTy's  colour  rose  as  he  took  a  turn  up  and  down  the  room  to 
compose  his  feelings  ere  he  would  trust  himself  to  reply.  "  You 
Avant  to  make  me  angiy,"  he  said,  "  but  I  do  not  intend  to  afford  you 
that  satisfaction.  Listen  to  me,"  he  continued,  seeing  that  his  wife 
was  again  about  to  inteniipt  him,  "  listen  to  me,  and  when  you  have 
heard  what  I  am  about  to  say,  you  can  reply  as  you  please.  I  made 
this  engagement  to  oblige  my  friend,  without  at  the  moment 
recollecting  that  to-day  was  the  time  appointed  for  caDing  on  the 
Duchess;  but  when  I  reflected  that  one  was  business  of  importance, 
and  the  other  a  mere  visit  of  ceremony,  I  hoped  and  believed  you 


134  HARRY  COVERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

would  be  reasonable  enougrh.  when  I  should  have  explained  the 
matter  to  you,  not  even  to  wish  nie  to  give  up  my  engagement,  and 
would  exercise  sufficient  common  sense  and  self-control  to  go  and 
pay  the  visit  alone." 

"  Then  you  thought  wrongly,"  returned  Alice,  with  vehemence ; 
"  if  you  required  a  wife  who  coiild  go  al>out  by  herself  and  visit  a  set 
of  proud,  stiff  people,  who  are  strangers  to  her,  and  keep  up  your 
position  in  the  county,  while  you  are  out  himting  and  shooting  all 
day.  for  your  own  selfish  amusement,  you  should  have  chosen  some 
fashionable  woman  of  the  world,  and  not  a  poor  simple  country  girl 
like  myself,  who  relied  on  your  affection  to  protect  and  encourage 
her ;  "  and  here  Alice  showed  strong  symptoms  of  a  disposition  to 
bring  that  "  young  wife's  last  resource  "  of  a  flood  of  tears  to  bear 
upon  her  disobedient  and  refi"actoi*y  spouse. 

HaiTy,  seeing  this,  and  having  been  throughout  the  inten'iew 
haunted  by  a  latent  consciousness  that  he  was  in  the  wTong,  was 
strongly  tempted  to  yield,  and  despatching  a  messenger  to  Tom 
Rattleworth  furnished  \vith  some  good  and  sufficient  social  white 
lie  to  account  for  his  non-appearance,  to  stay  quietly  at  home  till  the 
time  should  have  an-ived  to  accompany  his  wife  to  visit  their  aristo- 
cratic neighbours ;  but,  unhappily.  Colonel  Crossman's  caution, 
"  You've  man-ied  a  nice  gal  and  a  pretty  gal,  take  care  you  don't  go 
and  spoil  her,"  flashed  across  hiui :  "  women  are  all  alike,  more  or  less  ; 
it's  the  nature  of  'em  to  choose  to  have  their  own  way  ;  if  you  indulge 
'em  at  first,  they  will  be  your  masters  ever  after ;  show  your  wife  she 
has  met  her  match,"  &c.,  &c. — these,  and  such  like  precepts,  rang  in 
Harry's  ears.  Alice  was  angry  and  unreasonable,  striving  for  the 
upper  hand,  in  fact ;  he  must  not  permit  this  :  for  her  sake,  as  much 
as  for  his  own,  he  was  called  ujjon  to  assert  himself,  and  vindicate 
his  marital  authority.  Yes,  painful  as  it  was  to  his  feelings  to  speak 
or  act  harshly  to  his  young  wife,  whom,  even  at  that  moment,  he 
cared  for  more  than  any  other  created  being,  he  would  give  her  a 
lesson  which  should  cure  the  evil  at  once  and  for  ever.  So  putting 
on  a  very  grave  look  he  began  :  "  My  dear  Alice,  you  are  forgetting 
yourself,  forgetting  our  relative  positions ;  but  there  is  a  quiet  way 
of  settling  such  affairs ;  verbose  discussions  of  this  nature  do  not 
suit  me — I  am  essentially  a  man  of  action.  It  is  the  husband's  right 
to  command,  the  wife's  duty  to  obey.  I  had  hoped  your  own  proper 
feeling  would  have  saved  me  the  pain  of  being  forced  to  remind  you 
of  this.  I  must  now  add,  that  I  consider  myself  bound  to  fulfil  my 
engagement  to  my  friend,  and  intend  to  do  so  :  during  my  absence,  it 
is  my  wish  and  desire  that  you  should  drive  and  call  on  the  Duchess  of 
Brentwood  ;  if,  which  I  can  scarcely  conceive  i^ossible.  you  still  refuse 
to  do  as  I  have  pointed  out,  I  shall,  before  I  leave  this  room,  -svi-ite  a 
note  to  Lady  AUerton,  infomiing  her  that  we  are  unable  to  dine  with 
her  to-moiTOw,  without  assigning  any  cause  whatsoever  for  this 
change  of  intention — which,  as  I  cannot  give  the  true  reason,  and 
will  not  stoop  to  invent  a  false  one,  is  the  only  course  left  open  to  me." 


r 


i 


136  HARRY   COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

having  vindicated  his  marital  dignity,  and  galloped  ofP  the  irritation 
conseq\ient  upon  so  acting,  heartily  wished  the  deed  undone,  and 
Alice  and  himself  friends  again  ;  for,  little  as  he  appeared  to  prize 
it.  her  affection  had  become  necessai-y  to  him,  and  he  conld  no  more  do 
without  it,  than  he  could  have  dispensed  with  sunshine  in  summer 
or  fires  at  Chinstmas.  Accordingly  it  was  in  no  very  amiable  fi*ame  of 
mind  that  he  joined  his  fox-himting  ally ;  and  it  required  all  the 
allurements  of  oysters,  poi-ter.  devilled  bones,  and  unimpeachable 
port  wine,  to  enable  him  to  "  cast  dull  care  away,"  sufficiently  to 
take  a  proper  and  spoi*tsman-like  interest  in  all  the  miniitise  of  the 
proposed  transfer  of  stock,  canine  and  equestnan.  Once  fairly  in 
for  it,  howevever,  his  stable-minded  propensities  asserted  them- 
selves, and  he  spent  a  deeply  interesting  afternoon  in  feeling  back- 
sinews,  detecting  incipient  curbs  and  spavins,  condemning  an  incur- 
able sand-crack,  and  othei-wise  testing  and  pronouncing  judgment 
upon  the  quadi'upedal  inmates  of  Squire  Broomfield's  hunting 
stables  As  the  waning  light  heralded  the  approach  of  dinner 
time  (that  important  epoch  in  the  day  with  all  country  gentlemen, 
and  with  most  London  ones  also),  and  the  last  horse  had  been 
trotted  out  and  trotted  in  again,  and  its  petticoats  (which  gi-ooms 
call  "  body  clothing  '')  replaced,  Han-y's  thoughts  fell  back  into  their 
former  gloomy  train.  Anxious,  therefore,  to  leam  how  Alice  was 
progressing  under  the  weight  of  his  high  displeasure,  he  was  about 
to  take  leave,  when  Tom  Rattleworth  drew  him  aside,  obseiwing  in  a 
confidential  whisper, — 

"  I  say,  Coverdale,  old  Broomfield  is  going  to  ask  you  to  stay  and 
dine — I  know  he  is.  he  looks  so  pleased  with  himself.  For  mercy's 
sake  don't  refuse,  or  else  I  shall  have  to  endure  a  '  tete-a-tete  '  with 
the  old  boy.  and  that  will  use  me  up  all  together — horse,  foot  and 
artillery  ;  for  besides  being  bored  to  extinction,  he  will  do  me  out  of 
every  advantage  you  have  obtained  for  me  to-day.  He's  an  awful 
screw,  and  I'm  good  for  nothing  at  a  bargain  after  the  first  bottle  ; 
so  if  you  leave  me  to  his  tender  mercies,  I'm  safe  to  be  butchered 
like  a  lamb,  and  served  up  in  my  own  mint  sauce  befoi'e  we  quit  the 
mahogany." 

"  I'm  afraid  I  must  decline,"  was  the  reply,  "  for  my  wife  has  been 
at  home  by  herself  all  day,  and  it  is  not  fair  to  expect  her  to  spend 
the  evening  in  solitude  also.  But  you  need  not  be  victimized  on  that 
account ;  come  home  and  dine  with  us.  Tou've  never  met  my  wife  ; 
she  was  in  the  school-room  and  a  pinafore  when  you  went  abroad 
with  your  regiment.  Say  yes,  and  then  you  can  tell  old  Broomfield 
that  you  are  engaged  to  me." 

"  So  be  it  then,"  was  the  rejoinder,  and  thus  was  Mr.  Broomfield 
cheated  of  his  guests,  and  Harry  enabled  to  avoid  a  '  tete-a-tete ' 
dinner,  and  possibly  a  scene,  with  his  outraged  spouse.  In  the  mean- 
time, Alice  had  been  enduring  all  the  mental  torments  consequent 
upon  having  been  angry  with  the  person  one  loves  best  in  the  world. 
First,  the  idea  that  she  had  been  most  cruelly  used,  and  extensively 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  137 

sinned  against,  and  put  upon,  was  the  only  one  whioli  presented 
itself  to  her  mind  in  anything  like  a  clear  and  definite  shape  ;  and 
she  be-wailed  her  evil  fortune  in  a  very  thunderstorm  of  weeping. 
Having  by  this  means  condensed,  juid  disposed  of,  a  vast  amount  of 
superfluous  steam,  she  grew  calmer  and  more  reasonable,  when  the 
uncomfortable  possibility  gi-a dually  dawned  i;pon  her,  that  she  also 
might  have  been  to  blame — that  she  had  first  irritated,  and  then 
defied  Harry,  and  utterly  and  completely  failed  in  her  duty  as  a  wife  ; 
and  so  penitent  did  she  become  on  the  strength  of  this  conviction, 
that  if  her  husband  had  returned  at  that  moment,  she  would  have 
thrown  herself  at  his  feet  and  humbly  implored  his  pardon,  which 
act  of  unqualified  submission  must  have  disarmed  Harry  so  entirely 
and  totally,  that  he  would  instantly  have  forgiven  her,  and  frankly 
confessed  himself  to  blame,  and  Alice  would  never  again  have 
experienced  the  eifects  of  his  "  quiet  manner."  But,  unfortunately, 
Harry  was  at  that  moment  difPerently  occupied,  in  impressing  upon 
Tom  Rattleworth  the  impoi-tant  fact,  that  Lucifer  would  be  all  the 
better  for  having  a  red-hot  iron  passed  lightly  over  his  off  fetlock  at 
the  first  convenient  opportunity,  and  thus  Alice's  extreme  penitence 
evaporated  as  her  anger  had  done.  The  final  conclusion  at  which  she 
aiTived  was,  that  she  would  confess  her  fault  to  Harry  on  his  return, 
and  then  tiy  calmly  and  quietly  to  convince  him  of  his  injustice.  If  she 
shoiild  siicceed  in  this,  of  which  she  did  not  feel  by  any  means  certain, 
they  would  exchange  forgiveness ;  and,  warned  by  that  which  had 
occurred,  take  heed  to  their  ways,  and  live  in  harmony  and  affection 
ever  after.  All  these  sentiments  Alice  proposed  to  deliver  when  she 
and  her  husband  should  be  '  tete-a-tete'  after  dinner,  at  which  time  she 
had  obsei-ved  Hariy  to  be  usually  in  an  amiable  and  convincible  frame 
of  mind.  It  may  easily  be  imagined,  therefore,  that  when  she  heard 
Tom  Rattleworth  declare  with  much  enthusiasm,  and  in  a  voice 
raised  to  the  pitch  in  which  its  possessor  had  been  wont  to  direct  the 
gallant  fraction  of  the  British  army  lately  under  his  command  to 
"Shoiild — der  ar-r-ums,"  that  he  was  open  to  "  be  blessed,"  on  the 
spot,  if  "  the  joUy  old  place  did  not  look  stunning,"  she  was  by  no 
means  inclined  to  afford  him  the  benediction  he  had  invoked,  and 
heartily  wished  him  at  the  bottom  of  the  Red  Sea,  which  we  take  to 
be  the  lowest  geographical  limit  to  which  a  lady's  anathema  can  be 
permitted  to  descend.  She  had  not  time  to  do  more  than  condemn 
her  unknown  visitor  to  the  oceanic  penal  settlement  aforesaid,  ere 
a  sound  as  of  a  jibbing  man  impelled  forward  by  some  powerful 
agency  in  the  rear,  together  with  the  following  expostulation,  met 
her  ear  : — "  My  dear  fellow,  I'm  not  fit  to  be  introduced  ;  I'm  all  over 
mud,  I  am  upon  my  life !  " 

In  another  moment  the  drawing-room  door  flew  open,  and  her 
husband  and  a  tall,  large,  bushy-whiskered,  bluff,  young  man,  who 
looked  as  if  he  could  only  have  been  brought  in  doors  by  way  of  a 
trick,  like  a  pony,  or  a  wheelbarrow,  stood  before  her. 

"  Alice,  this  is  Tom  Rattleworth,  an  old  schoolfellow  of  mine,  who 


138  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

is  very  anxious  to  form  j'our  acquaintance,  and  has  kindly  consented 
to  dine  with  us,"  observed  Harry. 

"  Hey  ! — haw  !  "  besran  Tom  Rattleworth,  uttering'  sounds  like  a 
bashful  Off  re  in  his  intense  consciousness  of  his  muddy  disqualifica- 
tion for  female  society ;  '"  haw  !  hey  !  the  kindness  lies  all — haw  ! — 
the  other  way.  I  hope— Mrs.  Coverdale — my  dear  fellow — will 
excuse — I  told  you  I  wasn't  fit  to  be  seen  ;  but  you  seem  to  be — the 
roads  are — impetuous  as  ever — so  very  muddy."  Having  delivered 
himself  of  this  slightly  incoherent  address,  the  embryo  M.F.H. 
'■  made  his  revei-ence  "  to  Alice,  and  then  performing  the  militaiy 
evolution  expressed  in  the  mysterious  terms  "To  the  right  about! 
wheel ! "  he  laid  violent  hands  upon  his  host,  and  forced  shim  out 
of  the  room  as  energetically  as  he  had  been  himself  propelled  into 
it. 

The  dinner  soon  made  its  appearance,  and  was  a  ''  real  blessing  " 
to  all  i^arties,  for  it  provided  them  something  wherewith  to  occupy 
their  mouths,  and  thus  obviated  the  painful  necessity  of  manu- 
facturing small-talk — a  toil  compared  with  which  the  labours  of 
Hercules  appear  child's  play,  and  the  up-hill  work  of  Sisyphus  a 
mere  game  at  hall. 

The  first  shai-p  edge  of  his  appetite  taken  off,  Tom  Rattleworth 
began  to  converse  fluently  upon  the  only  topic  which  never  failed 
him,  and  which  invariably  formed  the  staple  ingredient  in  his 
discourse,  and,  indeed,  in  his  thoughts  generally — viz.  himself  and 
his  own  sayings  and  doings. 

Alice,  bored  and  unhappy,  uttered  monosyllabic  rej)lies,  when  she 
perceived  that  she  was  expected  to  do  so ;  and  remained  silent  and 
"  distraite  "  when  such  exertions  were  not  required  of  her. 

Han-y,  partly  grieved  at  perceiving  the  accustomed  smishine  in 
his  wife's  pretty  face  overcast,  partly  iiritated  at  what  he  imagined 
to  be  the  sulkiness  of  her  manner;  annoyed  at  liis  friend's  egotistic 
chatter,  which  he  felt  was  disgusting  Alice,  and  which  he  could  not 
contrive  to  check  (seeing  that  the  obtuseness  of  Tom  Rattleworth's 
faculties  rendered  him  totally  impervious  to  a  hint) ;  and  generally 
provoked  by  the  change  from  his  usual  state  of  careless,  light-hearted 
happiness  to  his  present  iincomfortable  frame  of  mind — a  change 
which  he  rightly  enough  attributed  in  a  great  measure  to  his  o^Ti 
hastiness  and  mismanagement,  almost  lost  his  temper.  This  he 
displayed  by  rating  the  lad  who  assisted  Wilkins,  until  he  reduced 
that  unhappy  juvenile  to  such  a  pitch  of  nervousness  and  general 
mental  debility,  that,  having  inveigled  his  mistress  into  sugaring 
instead  of  peppering  a  broiled  turkey's  leg,  and  reijlenished  the 
Champagne  glasses  from  a  bottle  of  bitter  ale,  he  was  sent  out  of  the 
room  in  disgrace.  But  in  this  mortal  life  (which  would  be  qtiite 
ujiendurable  if  such  were  not  the  case)  all  things  sooner  or  later 
come  to  an  end — and  dull  dinners  are  no  exceptions  to  the  rule — 
thus,  after  the  dessert  had  been  placed  on  the  table,  Alice,  having 
finished  her  half -glass  of  sherry  and  nibbled  a  fragment  of  some 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  13» 

little  vegetable  absurdity  preserved  in  candied  sugar,  and  looking 
like  a  geological  specimen  rather  tban  a  sweetmeat,  reckoned  slie 
had  sufficiently  fulfilled  her  duty  as  hostess,  and  was  watching 
for  an  oppoi-tunity  to  escape  and  go  and  be  wi'etched  comfortably 
by  herself,  when  Tom  Rattleworth,  addressing  her  especially, 
Ijegan : — 

"  'Pon  my  word,  my  dear  Mrs.  Coverdale,  when  I  see  you  and  my 
friend  HaiTy  here  so  happy  together"  (Harry  seized  a  pear  and 
began  denuding  it  of  its  rind  Avith  a  kind  of  ferocious  eagerness, 
suggestive  to  any  one  acquainted  with  the  "  dessous  des  cai-tes  "  of  his 
willingness  to  perform  a  similar  operation  upon  his  "  mal  a-propos  " 
guest),  ■■  I  declare  it  makes  a  fellow  feel  quite  doA\Ti  in  the  mouth 
when  he  thinks  of  going  home  to  enjoy  his  own  single  blessedness, 
as  they  call  it — though  single  t'other  thing  would  be  more  like  the 
truth,  I  fancy — but  then  it  isn't  everybody  that's  as  lucky  as  Han-y 
and  you — not  suited  to  each  other  so  charmingly,  you  understand." 
(Alice,  avoiding  her  husband's  eye,  bent  over  her  sweetmeat  as 
though  she  were  anxious  to  count  the  number  of  spangles  of  candied 
sugar  it  took  to  cover  a  square  .inch  thereof.)  "Now  there  was  a 
man  in  our  regiment — cui'ious  coincidence,  his  name  was  Han-y,  too — 
but  ^hose  things  do  happen  so  curiously — Han-y  Flusterfon  his  name 
was — well,  ma'am,  when  we  were  quartered  up  at  Montreal,  there 
was  a  family  there  to  whom  Han-y  and  I  took  out  introductions,  and 
as  we  found  ourselves  decidedly  hard  up  for  amusement,  we  used  to 
visit  there  pretty  much.  There  were  two  or  three  daughters  in  the 
family,  but  the  eldest  was  the  one  that  took  my  fancy  most,  and 
Harry  Flustei-ton  was  of  the  same  opinion.  Accordingly  we  both 
laid  siege  to  her,  but  Han*y  soon  began  to  shoot  ahead,  and  I,  find- 
ing that  it  was  no  go,  quietly  took  up  with  number  two,  who, 
although  she  hadn't  her  sister's  points,  figure,  or  action,  was  by  no 
means  a  girl  to  be  despised,  especially  in  a  dull  place  like  that ;  well, 
my  dear  fellow — haw  ! — my  dear  ma'am,  I  mean — 'pon  my  word,  I'm 
not  fit  for  ladies'  society — but  the  long  and  short  of  it  is,  Han-y  was 
married — everybody  thought  he  was  the  luckiest  dog  ))reathing — I'm 
sure  I  did  for  one,  and  said  as  much  to  Eliza — that  was  the  younger 
one,  you  undei-stand,  that  I  was  obliged  to  put  up  with.  When  I 
made  that  remai-k  to  her,  she  looked  at  uie  queer  like,  and  says  she, 
'  I  hope  your  friend  is  a  very  sweet  temper,  Mr.  Rattlewoi-th  ?  '  'Of 
com-se  he  is,'  retm-ned  I,  for  he  was,  up  to  the  day  he  man-ied,  as 
easy  tempered  a  fellow  as  you'd  wish  to  meet  with.  Would  you 
believe  it,  Mrs.  Coverdale,  this  charming  creature  that  we  had  both 
fallen  so  desperately  in  love  with  (not  but  that  I  liked  Eliza  just  as 
well  when  I  once  got  used  to  her)  turned  out  a  regular  vixen — a 
perfect  vii-ago,  ma'am ;  why  Harry  himself  told  me  that  they  hadn't 
much  more  than  got  over  the  honeymoon,  when  the  first  time  he 
wanted  her  to  do  something  she  didn't  like,  some  nonsense  about 
visiting,  or  some  such  stuff,  the  way  she  flared  up  was  a  caution  to 
single  men — " 


140  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  My  dear  Rattlewortb,  I'm  sorry  to  interiiipt  you,"  exclaimed 
Coverdale,  who  coixld  bear  it  no  longer,  "  but  I'm  afraid  my  wife  is  a 
little  overcome  by  the  heat  of  the  room — those  servants  will  make 
such  ridiculously  large  fires.  My  dear  Alice,  if  you  i^refer  the 
drawing-room,  I'm  sure  Rattleworth  will  excuse  you ;  this  place  is 
like  the  black-hole  in  Calcutta."  And  while  Rattlewoi-th,  talking  all 
the  time,  sprang  to  open  the  door,  Harry  covered  his  wife's  retreat 
by  instituting  a  fm'ious  onslaught  upon  the  unoffending  fire.  It  was 
well  he  came  to  the  rescue  when  he  did,  for  in  another  minute  Alice 
would  have  been  in  hysterics.  To  get  rid  of  his  dear  friend  as  soon 
as  possible  was  Haii-y's  next  anxiety,  but  this  was  no  such  easy 
matter.  Thomas  Rattleworth,  Esq.,  M.F.H.,  was  at  that  happy 
moment  the  victim  of  two  strenuous  necessities — one  to  listen  to  the 
sound  of  his  o^vn  voice,  expressing  not  so  much  his  ideas  as  his 
paucity  thereof ;  and  the  other  to  imbibe  a  bottle  of  poi-t  wine,  in 
twelve  doses  of  a  wine-glass  each ;  and  these  necessities  had  the 
imf ortunate  property  of  re-acting  upon  and  increasing  each  other ; 
for  talking  made  him  thirsty,  and  drinking  made  him  talkative,  so 
that  it  was  eleven  o'clock  before  he  had  talked  himself  out,  by  whicb 
time  the  terminus  of  a  second  bottle  of  port  had  been  arrived  at. 
With  a  feeling  of  relief  such  as  Sinbad  the  Sailor  might  have 
experienced  when  he  felt  the  legs  of  the  Old  Man  of  the  Sea 
gi'adually  relaxing  their  clasp  around  his  weaiied  shoulders,  did 
Han-y  assist  his  friend  to  light  a  cigar,  then  Avatched  its  fiery  tip 
gradually  disappear  in  the  darkness,  as  Rattleworth's  cover  hack 
cantered  off  with  its  master's  six  feet  one  of  good-natui-ed  goose- 
flesh. 

Left  to  his  own  meditations,  Han-y  started  a  cigar  on  his  own 
account,  and,  the  night  being  a  fine  one,  he  paced  up  and  down  the 
gravel  walk  in  front  of  the  house  until  he  should  have  cleared  his 
brain  from  the  fumes  of  the  wine  civility  had  forced  him  to  swallow. 
The  calm  stars  came  out  one  by  one,  and  as  he  watched  their  bright 
effulgence,  an  idea  of  his  childhood,  that  they  might  be  the  eyes  of 
angels,  recun-ed  to  his  memory ;  and  he  could  even  fancy  they 
appeared  to  gaze  upon  him  reproachfully.  No  human  being  possess- 
ing even  the  lowest  order  of  reflective  powers,  or  the  faintest  vestige 
of  imagination,  can  watch  the  tranquil  splendour  of  a  starlight  night 
— a  scene  which  at  once  proclaims  God's  omnipotence,  and  appears  a 
work  fitted  to  the  majesty  of  the  Great  Being  who  created  it  for  His 
own  glory — without  becoming  imbued  with  the  idea  of  rest  and  peace, 
and  desirous  of  realizing  these  blessings  in  his  own  life.  With  God 
and  infinity  so  near  us,  how  we  loathe  the  trifles  of  existence  !  and, 
above  all,  how  we  despise  and  contemn  the  littleness  of  our  fallen 
nature  !  how  we  repent  with  bitter  tears  of  shame  and  contrition  the 
evils  they  have  vsrought  in  ourselves,  and  through  us  to  others  !  And 
how,  at  such  a  moment,  do  the  qualities  we  inherit  from  heaven — 
truth,  and  love,  and  mercy — expand  within  us,  and  fill  om-  soids.  and 
raise  us,  for  the  time,  above  ourselves,  and  nearer  to  the  high  estate 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  141 

from  which  we  have  fallen— alas !  that  it  should  be  only  for  the 
time !  Coverdale  was  not  insensible  to  these  elevating  inflnences ; 
his  love  for  Alice  returned  in  all  its  original  strength  and  pm-ity, 
and  he  determined,  before  he  slept  that  night,  to  bring  about  a 
reconciliation,  even  if  his  wife  should  refuse  to  confess  that  she  had 
acted  wrongly.  Yes !  he  would  actually  go  the  length  of  owning 
that  he  had  been  to  blame  and  was  soriy  for  it,  and  then  Alice 
would  forgive  him,  and  all  would  be  as  though  this  foolish  disagree- 
ment had  never  occurred. 

False  reasoning,  Hany !  there  are  two  things  a  woman,  however 
thoroughly  she  may  forgive  them,  never  forgets — neglect  and 
unkindness ;  and  when  once  these  have  cast  their  shadow  across  the 
bright  eager  gladness  with  which  she  yields  i;p  her  whole  soul  as  a 
thank-offering  to  him  she  loves,  man,  with  his  stronger,  sterner 
nature,  can  no  more  bring  back  the  delicacy  and  freshness  of  that 
young  affection,  than  he  can  restore  to  the  peach  the  bloom  which 
his  careless  fingers  have  profaned — the  love  may  still  exist  in  its  full 
reality,  but  the  bright  halo  of  early  romance  which  surrounded  it  has 
been  dispelled,  never  to  return ! 


CHAPTER  XXYII. 

THE  PLEASURES  OF  KEEPING  UP  THE  GAME. 

Having  looked  at  the  stars,  and  profited  Isy  their  quiet  teaching, 
Hai-ry  went  in  a  sadder  and  a  wiser  man,  resolved,  ere  he  slept 
that  night,  to  confess  his  fault,  and.  if  it  might  be  so,  obtain  Alice's 
forgiveness.  But  Alice,  tired  and  imhappy.  had  gone  to  bed,  and 
cried  herself  to  sleep  like  a  weary  child ;  and  when  Hai'ry  entered 
her  room,  he  found  her  lying  with  her  head  pillowed  on  her  arm,  and 
the  tear-drops  scarcely  dried  upon  her  long  silken  eyelashes,  as 
soundly  asleep  as  though  care,  and  sin,  and  soitow,  were  evils  of 
which  her  philosophy  had  never  dreamed— so  Coverdale  could  only 
invoke  a  silent  blessing  upon  her,  and  hasten  to  follow  her  example 
by  going  to  bed  and  to  sleep  himself.  Thus  an  opportunity  was  lost 
of  regaining  the  "  high  estate  "  in  his  wife's  affections,  from  which 
he  had  fallen  by  reason  of  his  inconsiderate  selfishness,  and  hasty 
and  impetuous  temper ;  and  it  is  a  fact  equally  true  and  tiying,  that 
an  opportunity  once  lost  never  returns,  even  an  advertisement  in  the 
*'  Times  "  would  fail  to  regain  it. 

One  of  the  strangest  and  least  comprehensive  of  psychological 


142  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

phenomena  is  the  total  change  produced  in  our  thoughts,  feelings, 
opinions,  hopes,  fears,  sympathies,  antipathies,  and  all  the  other 
component  pai-ts  which  make  up  that  wonderful  spiritual  steam- 
engine,  the  mind  of  man,  by  a  good  night's  sleep.  We  go  to  bed 
desperately  in  love  with  some  charming  girl  we  have  flirted  with  half 
the  evening,  despising  her  cruel  old  male  parent,  who  would  come 
and  disturb  ovir  '  tete-a-tete,'  and  take  her  away  at  least  an  hour 
sooner  than  anybody  not  utterly  callous  to  all  the  finer  feelings  of 
human  nature  would  have  dreamed  of  doing;  and  hating  with  un- 
christian mtdignity  her  tall  coiisin  in  the  Blues,  who,  having  known 
her  from  her  cradle  upwards,  dared  to  call  her  "  Gussie  "'  to  ow'  very 
face — we  sleep  soundly,  om*  mind  lies  fallow  for  some  six  hours,  and 
lo !  a  change  has  come  o'er  us  ;  our  goddess  has  stepped  do^NTi  from 
ber  pedestal,  and  appears  a  very  average  specimen  of  white  muslined 
femininity  and  flirtation,  while  her  father  has  improved  into  quite  an 
amiable  model  paterfamilias,  at  whose  patient  benignity  in  remain- 
ing, to  please  his  daughter,  at  an  evening  parfy  till  half-past  three 
a.m.  we  actiially  marvel ;  and  as  to  that  fine  young  fellow  her  cousin, 
we  are  really  shocked  when  we  recall  om*  unchnstian  feelings  towards 
him,  and,  as  some  slight  compensation,  mentally  book  him  for  an  invite 
to  that  dinner  at  Blackwall  which  we  propose  bestowing  upon  a  dozen 
of  our  very  particular  friends,  in  the  unlikely  event  of  our  exchequer 
holding  out  till  the  whitebait  season.  Thus,  by  the  next  moniing, 
Coverdale  had  slept  off  the  sharp  edge  of  his  penitence,  and  when 
Alice  began  by  a  great  efforf  to  refer  to  the  events  of  the  previous 
day,  with  the  intention  of  confessing  herself  in  the  "WTong,  and  asking 
forgiveness,  Hany,  dreading  a  scene  with  a  degree  of  hoiTor  equally 
masculine  and  English,  checked  the  flow  of  her  eloquence  by  ex- 
claiming abruptly  and  cheerfully.  ''  Yes,  dear,  certainly — but  don't 
say  another  word  about  it ;  we  were  both  very  silly,  and  made  each 
other  very  miserable,  Avhen  we  might  be  as  happy  as  the  day  is  long ; 
let  bygones  be  bygones,  we  will  forgive  and  forget,  and  be  wiser  for 
the  future,  eh  ?  "  As  he  spoke,  he  drew  her  to  him,  and  sealing  his 
forgiveness  on  her  lips  with  a  kiss,  rendered  all  discussion  impossible 
by  leaving  the  room. 

This  speech  (kiss  included)  ought  to  have  satisfied  any  reasonable 
wife,  but  unfortunately  at  that  moment  Alice  was  not  exactly  in  a 
reasonable  frame  of  mind ;  she  had  dwelt  so  long  on  one  idea,  in 
accordance  with  which  she  had  aiTanged  the  whole  progamme  of  a 
dramatic  reconciliation  scene,  that  she  by  no  means  approved  of 
Han-y's  short  cut  to  concord,  rendering  null  and  void  aU  her  explana- 
tion of  how,  and  why,  and  wherefore  she  had  come  to  behave  ill,  to- 
gether with  a  spu-ited  sketch  in  monologue  of  her  contrition  for  the 
past  and  vows  of  amendment  for  the  future  ;  the  whole  to  conclude 
with  certain  annotations  and  reflections,  which  she  trusted  would  so 
affect  her  husband's  feelings,  and  convince  his  understanding,  that 
he  would  for  the  future  restrict  shooting  to  two  short  mornings  a 
week,  and  cast  hunting  "  to  the  dogs  "  entirely,  and  now  all  the 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  143 

mysterious  pleasure  tlie  gentler  sex  derive  from  talking  a  thinof  well 
over,  was  denied  lier. 

Ah  !  that "'  talking  over,"  what  a  wonderful  female  attribute  it  is  ! 
how  vast  and  impoitant  a  part  of  "  woman's  mission  "  does  it  con- 
stitute I  in  fact,  we  have  met  innumerable  women — the  majority  of 
our  female  acquaintance,  we  should  say — whose  whole  and  entire 
mission  appears  to  consist  of  a  "  call "  to  "'  talk  over,"  first,  their 
neighbom-s'  affairs  (a  duty  to  their  neighbour  in  which  they  never 
fail),  secondly,  their  own.  The  French  aphorism  (seldom  acted  upon 
by  its  voluble  originators),  "  Cela  va  sans  dire,"  must  seem  imspeak- 
ably  absurd  to  these  advocates  for  an  indefinite  extension  of  the 
"  freedom  of  debate  ; "  while  the  "  silent  system "  must  appear  a 
more  "  capital  punishment "  than  death  itself,  always  supposing  the 
excellence  of  a  punishment  to  be  tested  by  its  severity  : — but  we  are 
slightly  digressing. 

If  anything  were  needed  to  prove  the  absurdity  of  human  beings 
— creatures  with  immortal  souls,  placed  in  this  world  to  prepare  for 
eternity — darkening  the  sunshine  of  each  other's  lives  by  bickering 
about  trifles,  that  evidence  wouldl  be  afforded  when  we  observe  the 
manner  in  which  such  mental  "  nebulie  "  vanish  before  the  presence  of 
any  of  the  stem  realities  of  existence.  Thus  when,  breakfast  being 
concluded,  Hairy  was  called  mysteriously  out  of  the  apartment  to 
leaiTi  that  a  moimted  gi-oom  had  just  an-ived  from  Hazlehurst  Grange, 
with  the  intelligence  that  old  Mr.  Hazlehurst  had  been  seized  ^^^th  a 
fit,  from  which,  when  the  servant  came  away,  he  was  not  expected 
to  recover.  Coverdale's  only  thought  was  how  most  tenderly  and 
judiciously  to  break  the  sad  news  to  Alice.  Having  executed  his 
painful  task  with  a  degi-ee  of  tact  and  delicacy  of  feeling  for  which 
those  who  knew  only  the  rough  side  of  his  character  would  scai-cely 
have  given  him  credit,  and  soothed,  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  the 
burst  of  gi'ief  with  which  Alice  received  the  intelligence,  Harry  con- 
tinued, "And  now,  love,  the  moment  you  are  able  to  start,  the 
phaeton  will  be  ready :  it  is  lighter  than  the  close  can-iage,  and  in  an 
emergency  like  the  present,  eveiy  minute  becomes  of  consequence." 

"And  you  ?  "  inquired  Alice,  glancing  at  him  timidly  thi-ough  her 
tears. 

"I  of  course  will  drive  you  myself;  you  did  not  suppose  I  should 
let  you  go  alone." 

Alice  could  not  reply,  but  as  she  pressed  her  husband's  hand 
caressingly,  the  old  loving  look  came  back  into  her  eyes,  and  Harry 
felt  that  he  was  forgiven.  On  reaching  the  Grange  the  report  of  the 
sick  man  was  more  favoui'uble  than  Alice  had  dared  to  hope.  An 
apoplectic  fit  constitutes  one  of  the  few  exceptional  cases  in  which 
prompt  medical  assistance  does  not  necessarily  increase  the  evil. 
and  the  Esculapius  of  the  neighbourhood  had  this  time  successfully 
intei-posed  between  death  and  his  victim  ;  while  Mr.  Hazlehurst  had 
received  a  lesson  sufficiently  severe  to  prevent  him  from  objecting  to 
the  substitution  of  toast  and  water  and  "  bland  "  puddings  for  port 


144  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

wine,  bottled  in  the  year  1830,  and  the  roast  beef  of  Old  Enerland. 
Coverdale  having  remained  at  the  Grange  for  thi'ee  days,  during 
which  time  he  had  shaken  hands  with,  and  lamented  over  Arthur 
(who,  summoned  at  the  commencement  of  his  father's  illness, 
appeared  looking  so  pale  and  thin,  that  it  was  decided  "  nem.  con." 
that  he  was  working  himself  to  death — a  view  of  the  case  which  he 
rather  than  othenvise  encouraged  by  the  faintness  of  his  denial),  was 
forced  to  retm-n  to  the  Park  to  attend  the  next  meeting  of  magis- 
trates, and  finally  to  dispose  of  the  offending  poachers.  Accord- 
ingly, ha^•ing  arranged  with  Alice  to  send  the  close  carnage  for  her 
on  the  day  but  one  following,  he  took  leave  of  the  Hazlehurst  family, 

and  drove  to  H .    Here,  after  a  long  examination,  the  aforesaid 

poachers  were  convicted,  and  sentenced,  one  to  nine  months',  another 
to  a  year's  imprisonment — Markum's  evidence  being  so  clear  and 
convincing,  that  such  an  issue  became  inevitable.  As  the  game- 
keeper left  the  coiu-t,  a  tall,  gipsy-looking  fellow  came  up  to  him, 
and  muttered  in  his  ear,  "You'll  live  to  repent  this  day's  work, 
Master  Keeper ;  look  to  yoiu-self  one  of  these  dark  nights." 

"  Look  to  yom-self  if  I  catch  you  on  om*  groimd,"  was  Markum's 

contemptuous  rejoinder;  "there's  enough  oakum  to  "pick  in  H 

gaol  for  Tom  and  you  too." 

"  Who  is  that  fellow  'i  "  inquii'ed  Coverdale,  as  the  man,  percei\-ing 
that  the  keeper's  reply  was  beginning  to  attract  attention,  turned 
away  with  a  scowl. 

"  That  be  Jack  Hargiave.  Mi\  Coverdale,  sir,"  returned  Markum  ; 
"  brother  along  o'  Tom,  as  we've  give  twelve  months  to ;  and  sarve 
'im  right,  a  poachin',  thievin'  wagrant." 

■•  Is  this  fellow  a  poacher  also  ?  "  asked  HaiTy. 

*'  That  is  he  then,"  was  the  reply ;  '"  a  reg'lar  bred  un,  and  as  deep 
a  hand  as  ever  set  a  snare,  only  he's  so  '  wide  o','  that  it's  not  so  easy 
to  nab  the  warmint;  but  I'll  be  down  upon  'im  yet,  for  all  his 
threatenings.  He's  bin  heai-d  to  swear  he'll  put  a  charge  o'  shot 
under  my  veskit  some  o'  these  nights ;  he'd  better  not,  though,  or  he 
may  find  there's  two  can  play  at  that  game." 

"  No  \dolence,  my  good  fellow,  no  violence ;  it's  not  a  light  thing  to 
shed  the  blood  of  a  fellow-creature — besides,  there's  a  quiet  way  of 
managing  these  affairs.  I  shall  warn  the  police  to  keep  an  eye  on 
that  man  Hargrave;  he  looks  dangerous;  and  you  may  as  well  put 
on  another  watcher,  it  won't  do  to  be  short-handed  just  now."  So 
saying,  Coverdale  tm-ned  away,  and  was  soon  deep  in  conversation 
with  the  inspector  of  the  mounted  rui-al  police ;  after  which,  refusing 
to  make  one  of  a  jo^^al  party  who  were  about  to  dine  with  Tom 
Rattleworth,  and  were  tolerably  certain  to  remain  playing  whist, 
and  imbiliing  strong  liquors  till  the  small  hours  should  be  again 
upon  the  increase,  he  drove  home  to  his  solitary  mansion. 

It  was  the  first  time  since  his  maniage  that  Coverdale  had  dined 
by  himself,  and  he  felt  propoi-tionably  lonely ;  everything  tended  to 
remind  him  of  Alice — her    favourite    dog,   a    little  black-and-tan 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  145 

spaniel,  witli  large  loving  eyes,  not  unlike  her  own,  leaped  on  his 
knee  after  dinner,  and  gazing  wistfully  at  the  empty  chair  opposite, 
uttered  a  low  whine,  as  though  it  would  inquire,  "  Where's  my 
mistress  P"  The  footstool,' whereon  her  dainty  little  feet  were  wont 
to  repose — the  screen  with  which  she  was  accustomed  to  shade  her 
fair  cheek  from  the  too  (ardent  advances  of  the  fire — each  object, 
animate  or  inanimate,  recalled  his  thoughts  to  Alice ;  and  feeling,  even 
more  strongly  than  he  had  ever  yet  felt,  how  deeply  and  tenderly  he 
loved  her,  he  for  the  first  time  perceived  that  love  in  its  true  light, 
and,  in  acknowledging  its  full  reality,  became  conscious  of  the  duties 
and  responsibilities  such  an  afEection  entailed  upon  him.  Faintly  and 
dimly  at  first  the  light  broke  in  xipon  him ;  deeply  did  he  feel  the 
difficulties  of  the  task,  and  his  own  inability  to  perform  it ;  and 
bittei'ly,  most  bitterly,  did  he  regi'et  his  own  selfish  carelessness, 
which  had,  as  he  was  fain  to  confess,  tended  ah-eady  to  estrange  his 
young  wife's  afEection,  and  to  convei-t  a  gentle,  yielding  girl,  into  a 
wilful  and  exacting  woman.  And  thus  he  sat,  pondering  over  and 
regretting  the  past,  and  forming  wise  and  good  resolutions  for  the 
future,  while  minutes  gliding  by  unobserved  grew  into  houi-s,  until 
the  sudden  restlessness  of  the  little  dog,  which  had  been  sleeping 
quietly  iipon  his  knees,  roused  him,  and  looking  at  his  watch,  he 
perceived  it  was  nearly  midnight.  As  he  did  so  the  dog,  whose 
restlessness  appeared  to  increase,  uttered  a  short  bark,  while  at  the 
same  moment  a  distant  sound  was  faintly  audible,  which  Han-y's 
practised  ear  instantly  recognized  as  the  report  of  a  gun.  To  spring 
to  the  window,  open  the  shutter,  and  fling  up  the  sash,  was  the  work 
of  an  instant ;  a  like  space  of  time  sufficed  to  resolve  doubt  into 
certainty, — guns  were  being  discharged  in  a  favourite  plantation 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  house — a  plantation  in  which  the 
pheasants  were  as  well  fed  and  tame  as  bani-door  fowls ;  it  was 
evident  the  poachers  were  taking  their  revenge,  and  that  these  sacred 
birds,  the  Lares  and  Penates  of  Han-y's  sporting  mythology,  wei'e 
being  ruthlessly  slaughtered  on  their  roosts.  Han-y  rang  the  bell 
furiously ;  then  before  the  alarmed  Wilkins  (who,  having  commenced 
his  career  in  the  service  of  an  apoplectic  alderman,  laboured  under  a 
chronic  impi-ession  that  somebody  was  in  a  fit)  had  passed  beyond 
the  door  of  the  servants'  hall,  he  mshed  impetuously  out  of  the 
dining-room,  and  meeting  that  bewildered  domestic  in  full  career, 
nearly  frightened  him  into  an  attack  of  the  malady  he  so  much 
dj-eaded  for  others,  by  exclaiming,  "  Here,  quick  !  Tell  Saunders,  or 
some  of  them,  to  saddle  the  shooting  cob  and  bring  him  round 
instantly ;  then  find  me  a  hat  and  pea-jacket.     Quick,  I  say !  " 

As  the  butler  vanished  on  his  mission,  Coverdale  took  down  from 
a  peg  in  the  hall,  a  special  constable's  staff  which  had  been  entrusted 
to  him  on  behalf  of  her  gracious  Majesty,  at  a  time  when  an  extra 
dose  of  politics  and  strong  beer  had  proved  too  potent  for  the  dense 
agricultm-al  pates  of  certain  free  and  independent  (alias  bribed  and 
tipsy)  electors  of  the  neighbouring  county  town.     It  was  a  stout 

L 


146  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

piece  of  ash,  about  a  foot  and  a  half  lon<?,  thicker  than  an  ordinaiy 
broom-stick,  and  weighted  with  lead,  for  the  benefit  of  any  unusually 
opaque  skull  into  which  it  mig^ht  be  deemed  ad\'isable  to  knock  a 
respect  for  our  glorious  constitution.  Harry  felt  its  weight,  and,  as 
he  passed  his  wrist  through  the  leather  thong  attached  to  it,  he 
thought  to  himself  they  would  be  bold  men  who  could  prevent  him, 
with  that  in  his  hand,  from  going  where  he  pleased.  The  instant 
the  cob  appeared  he  sprang  into  the  saddle.  "  Do  you  and 
Marshal  get  a  couple  of  stout  sticks,  and  make  the  l)est  of  your  way 
to  the  ash  plantation  !  "  he  exclaimed  hastily  ;  "  there  are  jjoachers 
out,  and  from  their  venturing  to  come  so  near  the  house,  I  should 
fancy  there  must  be  a  sti-ong  gang  of  them,  and  Markum  may  want 
all  the  help  we  can  give  him." 

So  saying.  Coverdale  gathered  up  the  reins,  and  without  waiting 
the  groom's  i-eply,  rode  off  at  a  brisk  canter.  As  he  approached  the 
wood,  he  di'ew  in  and  paused,  uncertain  whether  Markum  might  yet 
have  reached  the  scene  of  action :  as  he  listened,  the  sound  of 
men  crashing  through  the  diy  undei-wood  became  distinctly  audible  ; 
then  shouts  and  a  clamour  of  angi-y  voices,  and  finally,  the  un- 
mistakable noise  of  a  conflict  met  his  ear.  Pausing  no  longer,  he 
put  his  horse  into  a  gallop,  and  dashed  on  till  he  reached  a  hand- 
gate  leading  into  the  wood.  This,  to  his  annoyance,  he  found 
locked ;  true,  he  had  a  master-key,  which  he  had  fortunatel 
brought  with  him,  but  he  was  forced  to  dismoimt  in  order  to 
unfasten  the  padlock.  While  thus  engaged,  the  sounds  proved  that 
the  affray  was  still  i-aging  fiercely,  and,  as  he  flung  the  gate  open,  a 
gun  was  discharged,  followed  almost  instantaneously  by  the  report 
of  two  others.  Fearing  mischief  might  occur  before  he  could  reach 
the  combatants,  Coverdale  remounted  hastily,  and  heedless  alike  of 
obstacles  and  darkness,  galloped  down  one  of  the  grass  rides 
through  the  plantation,  avoiding  collision  with  the  trunks  and 
branches  of  trees  by,  as  it  appeared,  a  succession  of  miracles.  Before, 
however,  he  could  an-ive  at  the  scene  of  action,  the  sound  of  blows, 
the  shouts  and  imprecations,  had  ceased,  and  nothing  but  a  confused 
hum  of  voices,  together  with  a  low  moaning,  as  of  some  person  ill  or 
in  pain,  met  his  ear.  Forcing  his  horse  through  the  tangled  iinder- 
wood.  Coverdale  came  suddenly  upon  a  group  of  men,  amongst 
whom  he  recognized  several  of  his  own  farm  labourers,  while  two 
iinder-keepers  were  kneeling  beside  the  prostrate  figure  of  a  man  who, 
from  the  stiff,  unnatural  attitude  in  which  he  lay,  appeared  either 
dead  or  dying.  To  leap  to  the  ground,  and  snatch  a  lantern  from 
one  of  the  bystanders,  was  Harry's  first  act ;  then  bending  over  the 
fallen  man,  he  recognized  in  the  ghastly  features,  distorted  and 
conA'vilsed  with  agony,  the  well-known  countenance  of  honest,  sturdy 
Markum.  while  from  a  gim-shot  wound  in  his  right  side  the  dark 
life-blood  was  slowly  flowing. 

"  How  has  this  happened  ?  "  was  Coverdale's  luirried  inquiry.     "  Is 
it  an  accident,  or  have  any  of  those  scoimdrels  dared  to  shoot  him  ?  " 


-c;^^ 


^.- 


l^. 


'i 


148  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

possibility  could  not  exist  in  the  case  of  a  mapristrate,  ere  he  inquired, 
"  Do  you  think  you  hit  either  of  them  ?  " 

"  They'd  got  a  farish  start  before  I  pulled  at  'em."  was  the  reply, 
"  and  the  light  ain't  that  good  for  a  long  shot,  but  I  fancy  Jack 
Hargrave's  got  something  to  take  home  with  him,  for  he  gave  a  rare 
jump  as  the  charge  reached  him  ;  but  it  wani't  enough  to  stop  him, 
for  I  see  him  a  runnin'  like  a  gi-eyhound  arterwards." 

Wliile  this  conversation  was  proceeding.  Cover  dale,  by  aid  of 
sundry  neckcloths,  and  a  strip  that  he  cut  from  his  o^vn  pea-jacket, 
had  contrived  a  bandage  which  in  great  measure  stopped  the 
bleeding,  and  Markum  revived  sufficiently  to  recognize  those  about 
him ;  as  his  eyes  fell  on  Coverdale,  a  faint  smile  passed  across  his 
features. 

"  Is  it  you,  squire  ?  "  he  murmured  in  a  low  voice.  "  Ah  !  you 
always  had  a  kind  heart  of  your  own;  Jack  Hargi-ave's  kep  his 
word,  you  see.  I  expects  him  and  his  mate  'as  finished  me  atween 
'em  this  time." 

"  We'll  hope  not,  my  poor  fellow — but  don't  speak.  Do  you  think 
you  can  bear  can-ying  yet — yes  ?  Four  of  you  take  that  hand-gate 
off  its  hinges,  and  bring  it  here ;  we'll  lay  him  on  that.  We  shall 
have  a  surgeon  for  you  directly,  my  poor  fellow  !  I  sent  one  of  the 
lads  off  on  my  horse  to  fetch  Mr.  Gouger  the  moment  I  came  up — 
now,  steady  with  him.  I'll  lift  his  head — that's  it ;  now  raise  the 
gate  steadily.  Gently  there — well  done — are  you  all  ready  ?  Step 
together,  mind — march." 

As  he  spoke,  Hax-ry  (who  himself  suppoi'ted  one  corner  of  the 
temporary  litter  he  had  contrived)  and  three  others  raised  the 
wounded  man  on  their  shoulders,  and  can-ied  him  to  his  own  cottage, 
which  fortunately  was  near  at  hand.  He  bore  the  transit  bravely, 
though  the  pain  occasioned  by  such  motion  as  was  unavoidable, 
reduced  him  more  than  once  to  the  verge  of  fainting.  Shortly  after 
he  had  reached  his  destination  the  surgeon  arrived.  Coverdale 
waited  until  he  had  pronounced  the  wound  dangerous,  though  not 
necessarily  mortal,  then  leaving  him  to  make  a  more  minute  ex- 
amination, he  quitted  the  house.  He  foimd  a  mounted  policeman 
awaiting  him  outside,  who,  making  his  rounds,  had  been  attracted  by 
the  sound  of  guns  at  that  unusual  hour. 

"Ah,  policeman,  I  was  just  going  to  send  after  you;  my  head 
keeper  has  been  shot  by  these  poaching  rascals,  and  is  seriously 
hurt,  I'm  afraid  ! "  exclaimed  Coverdale.  "  How  are  we  to  make  sure 
of  the  fellows  who  did  it?  It  lies  between  a  man  called  Jack 
Hargi-ave — " 

"  A  reg'lar  bad  un,"  observed  the  horse-patrol,  parenthetically. 

"  You  said  you  knew  the  other  man,"  continued  Harry,  appealing 
to  the  under-keeper ;  "  are  you  acquainted  with  his  name  ?  " 

"  They  do  call  him  '  Winkey  '  in  a  general  way,  from  a  trick  he's 
got  with  his  eyelids;  but  his  right  name  be  Jim  Fags,"  wa*s  the 
reply. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  149 

"  I  know  liim,"  observed  the  policeman,  "  Well,  sii',  as  we're 
acquainted  with  the  parties,  I  should  say  we're  safe  to  be  down  upon 

'em  somewheres  to-mon-ow.    I'll  ride  over  to  H ,  and  put  all  our 

men  on  the  scent." 

"  Stay  !  that  ^ves  me  an  idea,"  said  Coverdale ;  then  turning  to 
the  under-keeper,  he  continued  in  a  lower  voice — "  You  are  sure  you 
hit  Hargi-ave — are  you,  Giles  ?  " 

The  young  man  nodded  in  the  affirmative,  and  his  master 
resumed, — 

"  Go  and  fetch  Nero,  poor  Markum's  night-dog,  muzzle  him,  and 
bring  him  in  one  of  the  greyhound  leashes.  We'll  contrive  to  take 
these  rascals  before  day  dawns,  policeman." 

While  Coverdale  was  explaining  his  plan  to  the  patrol,  Giles  re- 
turned with  the  dog :  it  was  a  splendid  animal,  a  cross  between  the 
English  mastiff  and  a  Spanish  bloodhound.  Its  size  was  unusual, 
and  its  strength  enormous.  Its  eyes  glared  red  in  the  torchlight, 
like  those  of  some  wild  beast.  When  it  saw  the  policeman  it 
uttered  a  low  growl,  and  the  bristles  on  its  back  stood  up  like  a 
mane;  but  at  a  word  from  Coverdale  it  relinquished  its  hostile 
attitude,  and,  with  a  sagacious  look,  which  said  almost  as  plainly  as 
words  could  have  expressed  it — "  I  comprehend  ;  it's  not  him  they've 
sent  for  me  to  won-y " — thiaist  its  huge  head  caressingly  into  its 
master's  hand. 

"  Now,  patrol,"  resumed  Coverdale,  "  if  you  will  ride  along  the 
skirts  of  the  wood,  and  lead  my  horse,  I  fancy  I  shall  be  able  to 
put  the  dog  on  the  track  of  these  fellows — and,  if  so,  he  will 
never  leave  it  till  the  game  is  run  do\vn.  You  have  handcuffs  with 
you  ?  " 

"  Aye,  and  pistols  too,  for  the  matter  of  that,"  was  the  reply. 

"I  don't  expect  they  will  be  required,"  rejoined  Covex'dale ;  "the 
scoundrels  will  scarcely  want  more  fighting  than  they've  had 
already  ; "  then  signalling  Giles  to  follow  with  the  dog,  he  tunied, 
and,  re-entenng  the  plantation,  soon  reached  the  scene  of  the  late 
conflict. 

"  Now  try  and  find,  as  neai-ly  as  possible,  the  spot  where  Hargi-ave 
was  when  you  fired  at  him,"  began  Coverdale  ;  "  give  me  the  dog  to 
hold,  and  take  the  lantern  with  you." 

Giles  obeyed ;  and  having  walked  about  fifty  paces  down  a  narrow 
pathway  through  the  wood,  began  carefully  to  examine  the  ground 
on  either  side.  Having  pursued  his  investigations  for  some  minutes 
in  silence,  he  paused,  examined  the  spot  still  more  closely,  and  then 
made  a  sign  to  Coverdale  to  join  him. 

On  reaching  the  place  Harry  observed,  by  the  light  of  the  lantern, 
several  dark  spots,  and  a  long  mark  on  the  soft  ground,  as  though 
some  person  had  slipped  and  nearly  fallen,  then  deep  footsteps  led 
towards  the  outskirts  of  the  wood.  The  moment  the  dog  perceived 
the  scent  of  blood,  all  the  savage  instinct  of  its  nature  awoke,  and, 
with  a  bound,  which  tested  the  strength  of  the  leash,  and  nearly  dis- 


150  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

located  Coverdale's  shoulders,  it  sprang  forward  along  the  track  of 
the  fugitives.  Five  minutes'  painful  toiling  through  bush  and  briar, 
brought  them  to  the  outskirts  of  the  plantation,  where  they  found 
the  policeman  waiting  with  the  horses.  Hastily  springing  to  the 
saddle,  Coverdale  made  Giles  attach  a  small  cord  he  had  brought 
with  him  to  the  end  of  the  leash,  against  which  the  bloodhound  now 
sti'ained  impatiently ;  then  twisting  the  other  end  round  his  own 
wrist,  he  was  about  to  desire  the  under-keeper  to  retm-n,  Avhen  the 
patrol  interfered  by  observing, — 
"  Better  take  Giles  with  us,  sir !" 

"  Why  so,  policeman  P  "  rejoined  Coverdale  sharply  ;  "  we're  two 
to  two,  fresh  men  against  tired  ones;  besides,  you're  armed  and 
they're  not." 

"  Jack's  got  a  gim  with  him,  and  is  likely  enough  to  use  it  now  his 
steam's  up,"  insinuated  Giles,  who  by  no  means  approved  of  losing 
his  share  in  the  expedition. 
"  And  when  we  have  nabbed  'em,  I  shall  want  help  to  convey  'em 

to  H gaol,"  pleaded  the  policeman.    "  I  can  take  him  up  behind 

me." 

"  As  you  will ;  only  lose  no  more  time,"  was  Coverdale's  reply ;  and 
cheering  on  the  dog,  he  rode  forward  at  a  brisk  trot. 

The  track  led  them  through  the  Park,  and  then  over  hill  and  dale, 
ploughed  field,  and  rough  stubble,  till  it  brought  them  out  upon  a 
wide  bleak  common,  dotted  here  and  there  with  patches  of  furze  and 
broom,  which  showed  dark  and  shadowy  in  the  moonbeams,  like 
plumes  upon  a  hearse.  Across  the  wildest  and  most  tangled  portion 
of  the  heath  the  dog  led  them,  still  straining  at  the  leash,  and  utter- 
ing from  time  to  time  a  suppressed  whimper  indicative  of  impatience. 
On  the  farther  side  of  the  common  rose  a  steep  bank,  in  one  portion 
of  which  a  deep  hollow  had  been  excavated  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  gravel.  As  the  dog  approached  this  place,  its  eagerness 
became,  if  possible,  stronger  than  before,  until,  at  about  thirty  yards 
from  the  spot,  it  suddenly  stopped,  and  again  erecting  the  bristles 
on  its  back,  uttered  a  deep  growl.  At  the  same  moment,  Coverdale, 
whose  sight  was  remarkably  keen,  perceived  a  figure  cautiously 
stealing  away  undercover  of  the  bushes.  Pointing  him  out  to  the 
policeman,  whose  horse  was  beginning  to  evince  symptoms  of  distress 
under  its  double  bm*den,  Coverdale  observed, — 

"  I  can  only  see  one  man,  but  let  us  make  sm-e  of  him.  Get  down, 
Giles,  and  hold  the  dog.  Now  patrol,  while  I  ride  round  that  bush 
and  head  the  fellow,  do  you  go  on  and  seize  him ;  and  if  you  want 
any  assistance,  I  shall  be  ready  to  afford  it." 

So  saying,  Coverdale  rode  forward  to  cut  off  the  poacher's  retreat, 
while  the  policeman,  putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  drawing  his 
cutlass,  dashed  iip  to  the  fellow,  and  seized  him  by  the  collar. 

Overawed  by  the  gleaming  weapon,  and  exhausted  by  his  previous 
exertions,  the  unfortunate  Jim  Fags  (alias  Winkey)  attempted  no 
resistance ;  and  the  policeman  availed  himself  of  his  pusillanimity  to 


I 

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I 


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4 


1 


152  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

condition,  tlie  coacliman  drew  up  at  a  villag^e  blacksmith's,  where 
the  evil  might  be  remedied.  Under  these  circumstances,  Alice 
detei'mined  to  walk  on  till  the  carriage  should  overtake  her,  which, 
as  the  morning  was  fine,  she  considered  the  reverse  of  a  hardship. 
Pondering  many  things — for  Alice  was  no  longer  the  careless,  light- 
heai-ted  girl  we  once  described  her — she  trudged  on,  at  first  briskly, 
then  more  leisurely,  as  the  road  began  to  ascend,  until  she  might 
have  proceeded  some  two  miles ;  and  yet  the  can-iage  did  not  make 
its  appearance.  Toiling  up  hill,  attired  as  ladies  usually  ai-e  from 
November  to  April,  with  an  amount  of  merino,  velvet,  and  fur,  which 
might  defy  the  severities  of  a  Siberian  winter,  and  is  clearly  '*  de  trop  " 
under  the  influence  of  a  sunshiny  morning  in  March,  not  unnaturally 
rendered  Alice  hot  and  tired  ;  and  fancying,  from  her  imperfect 
knowledge  of  the  locality,  that  she  must  be  upon  her  husband's  temtoiy, 
she  determined  to  make  acquaintance  with  the  inmates  of  a  cottage 
which  she  perceived  by  the  roadside  a  short  distance  higher  up  the 
hill,  and  with  their  permission,  to  rest  herself  until  the  carriage  should 
aiTive.  With  this  intention  she  approached  the  cottage,  and  finding  the 
door  closed,  rapped  at  it  with  first  her  knuckles,  then  the  handle  of  a 
most  frivolous  and  ephemeral  little  parasol ;  but  neither  of  these  appli- 
cations producing  the  desii-ed  effect,  she,  like  little  Red  Riding-hood, 
raised  the^latch  and  opened  the  door.  The  sight  which  met  her  eyes  was 
one  calculated  alike  to  stimulate  her  curiosity  and  interest  her  sym- 
pathies. In  a  cradle  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  room,  lay  an  uncon- 
scious and  remarkably  pretty  and  comfortable-looking  babyfast  asleep, 
while  near  it,  with  the  light  from  the  casement  streaming  full  upon  her 
smooth  dark  hair,  only  partially  concealed  beneath  her  neat  white  cap, 
sat  the  young  mother,  her  face  hidden  in  her  hands,  weeping  bitterly. 
Starting  at  the  sound  of  the  opening  door,  she  removed  her  hands, 
and  disclosed  featiu'es  which,  swollen  and  disfigured  as  they  were  by 
grief,  yet  evinced  tokens  of  unusual  beauty.  She  rose  as  Alice 
entered,  and  hastily  drying  her  tears,  stood  regarding  her  with  a 
wild  eager  glance  of  inquiiy. 

"  What  have  you  come  to  tell  me  ? "  she  said :  "  they  have  not 
relented — not  set  him  at  liberty  again  ? — or  the  other  one — he  is  not 
worse — oh,  God  '.—not  dead  ?  " 

Surprised  and  embarrassed  by  the  strange  eageraess  of  her  manner, 
and  interested  by  her  appearance  and  evident  distress,  Alice  hastened 
to  assm-e  her  that  she  was  not  the  bearer  of  any  tidings,  good  or  evil, 
and  having  explained  the  object  of  her  intrusion,  continued. — 

"  But  you  are  anxioiis  or  unhappy  about  something  ;  will  you  not 
tell  me  why  you  were  crying  so  bitterly  when  I  came  in — perhaps  I 
may  be  able  to  assist  you  ?  " 

Thus  appealed  to,  the  girl  (for  she  appeared  scarcely  above  twenty) 
fixed  her  dark  eyes  on  Alice's  face,  and  reading  therein  her  kind  and 
loving  nature,  which  indeed  was  so  legibly  depicted  that  the  veriest 
dullard  at  deciphering  character  could  scarcely  fail  to  discover  it, 
answered  more  gently  than  she  had  before  siioken, — 


\^ 


"^K 


154  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

and  satisfactory.  Of  cotu'se,  if  the  offence  had  been  committed  upon 
her  husband's  propei'ty,  he  could,  if  he  would,  decline  to  prosecute 
the  offenders — if  he  would  ? — there  lay  the  difficulty.  Alice  was 
well  aware  of  the  serioiis  li.£?ht  in  which  Han-y  regarded  the  crime  of 
poaching ;  and  the  attack  on  the  gamekeeper  even  she  was  forced  to 
reprobate ;  but  if  it  should  prove  that  the  man  was  not  seriously 
injured,  she  trusted  to  her  newly-regained  influence  to  enable  her  to 
place  the  matter  in  such  a  light  that  Harry  would  agree  with  her  in 
overlooking  the  culprit's  offence  for  the  sake  of  his  family  ;  or,  at  all 
events,  if  that  was  expecting  too  much  of  his  penitence,  she  had  only 
to  ask  it  as  a  personal  favour,  and  he  surely  could  not  refuse  her. 
So,  carried  away  by  her  feelings  of  kindly  sympathy,  and  acting  on 
the  impulse  of  the  moment,  she  put|f  orth  all  her  powers  of  consolation, 
and  ended  by  disclosing  her  name,  and  the  relation  in  which  she  stood 
towards  that  persecutor  of  poachers.  Harry  Coverdale,  at  the  same 
time  promising  to  use  her  influence,  whicli  she  represented  as  all-power- 
ful, to  screen  the  culprits  from  the  effects  of  their  misdemeanoiu-s. 

Before  her  consolatory  harangue  was  well  concluded,  the  caiTiage 
arrived,  and  Alice,  having  kissed  the  children  (the  unfortunate  baby 
being  ai-oused  expressly  for  the  performance  of  the  affectionate 
ceremony,  a  violation  of  the  rights  of  the  siibject  which  it  resented 
by  crying  and  slobbering  with  a  twenty-infant  power  over  Alice's 
velvet  mantle),  left  five  shillings  in  the  hands  of  their  mamma,  by 
way  of  a  peace-offering,  and  departed,  thoroughly  satisfied  with  her 
'  debut '  in  the  character  of  poor  man's  friend  and  cottager's  comforter. 
All  the  way  she  drove  home  she  was  building  castles  in  the  air  for 
the  benefit  and  behoof  of  the  ruined  family,  having  mentally  adopted 
the  little  girl  as  lady's-maid,  and  apprenticed  the  baby,  which  was  of 
the  nobler  sex,  to  a  serious  and  immaculate  cai-penter,  before  she 
reached  the  Park. 

Coverdale  was  absent  when  his  wife  anived,  having  ridden  over  to 

H ,  to    assist  at    the    committal  of    Jack    Hargi'ave  and    his 

accomplice  ;  but  she  received  from  Wilkins,  who  was,  in  more  senses 
than  one,  a  confidential  servant,  an  over-fvdl,  untrue,  and  particularly- 
exaggerated  account  of  the  aff'ray  of  the  previous  night,  from  which 
she  acquired  two  facts,  which  tended  considerably  to  disquiet  her, 
viz. : — first,  that  the  wounded  man  was  Markum,  her  husband's 
especial  favourite;  and  secondly,  that  Harry  had  been  personally 
involved  in  the  affair ;  both  of  which  considerations  increased  the 
difficulty  of  the  negotiation  for  gaol-delivery  to  which  she  had 
incautiously  pledged  herself.  Having  taken  off  her  things,  she 
proceeded  first  to  fraternize  with  her  King  Charles  spaniel  and  the 
two  canary-birds  (which  latter  plumed  bipeds  celebrated  her  return 
in  songs  of  shrill  triumph,  like  a  couple  of  inebriated  penny 
whistles),  then  to  put  all  the  ornaments  right,  which  the  housemaid 
had  dusted  into  uncomfortable  and  heterodox  positions.  She  had 
just  discovered  a  china  cup,  which  nobody  had  broken,  and  which 
yet  was  divided  in  several  places,  having  probably  split  its  own  sides 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  155 

laughing  at  the  grotesque  figures  with  which  its  manufacturer  had 
seen  fit  to  embeUish  it,  and  she  was  hunting  for  a  bottle  of  diamond 
cement  wherewith  to  repair  the  damage  before  her  husband's  retui*n, 
when  the  sound  of  horses'  feet  announced  that  event  to  have  taken 
place. 

The  first  words  that  met  her  ear  were,  "  Let  one  of  the  helpers  go 
down  to  Mai-kum's  cottage,  wait  till  Mr.  Gouger  has  seen  hiiu  again, 
and  bring  me  his  report  without  a  moment's  delay  ;  if  it  should  be 
unsatisfactory  I'll  send  for  Brodie  by  electric  telegraph.  Is  youi- 
mistress  returned  ?  " 

A  warm  embrace,  an  expression  of  his  delight  at  having  her  back 
again,  a  hurried  inquiry  after  Mr.  Hazlehm-st,  and  then  Han-y 
rushed  into  his  narrative  of  the  poaching  aifair,  and  in  his  eagerness 
to  detail  eveiT  circumstance  of  a  matter  which  interested  him  so 
deeply,  did  not  notice  the  tameness  of  Alice's  sympathy,  or  the 
lukewarm  manner  in  which  she  seconded  his  vii-tuous  indignation 
against  the  miscreants  who  had  all  but  murdered  good,  honest 
Markum :  "  And  small  thanks  to  them  that  it  was  '  all  but,'  for, 
if  ever  a  scoundrel  meant  mischief,  that  scoundi'el  was  Jack 
Hai'grave." 

Alice  saw  tliis  was  no  time  to  urge  her  suit,  and  so  merely  confined 
herself  to  tlie  general  remiu-k,  that  it  was  a  dreadful  affair  for  all 
parties,  and  that  she  pitied  the  wives  of  the  wretched  men  who  had 
committed  the  rash  act,  as  much  as  anybody  concenied  in  the 
matter ;  to  which  Harry  replied, — 

"  That  it  sei-ved  them  right  for  maiTying  poachers,  and  that  they 
might  think  they  were  lucky  not  to  be  the  victims  themselves,  for 
that  a  fellow  who  would  take  to  poaching  was  capable  oi  cutting  his 
wife's  throat,  or  of  any  other  enormity." 

Mr.  Gouger' s  report  was,  on  the  whole,  satisfactoi-y-  Markum  was 
going  on  well,  though  he  (Gouger)  could  not  pronounce  him  out  of 
danger;  the  injury  was  very  serious,  and  several  days  must  elapse 
before  the  idterior  consequences  would  be  apparent;  or,  as  the 
doctor  himself  remarked,  "  the  effect  of  extraneous  particles  of 
plumbago,  or  lead,  introduced  into  the  vital  system  by  the  sudden 
expansion  of  saltpetre  and  other  explosive  compounds  compressed 
within  the  narrow  limits  of  a  gun-barrel,  and  discharged  thence  by 
ignition,  according  to  the  natural  laws  of  projectiles,  was  most 
subtle  and  deleterious,  leading  sometimes  to  the  total  destruction  of 
animal  life,  at  others  to  a  concussion  of  the  nervous  system;  or 
again,"  &c.,  &c. :  from  which  sapient  opinion  Harry  collected  that 
Brodie  need  not  be  sent  for  immediately. 

Days  glided  by,  the  prisoners  were  remanded  till  Markum's  chance 
of  life  or  death  should  be  ascertained,  and  Alice  had  not  found  a 
fitting  moment  in  which  to  make  her  appeal.  At  length  the  surgeon, 
with  grave  looks,  which  might  mean  everything,  anything,  or 
nothing,  advised,  merely  as  a  matter  of  precaution,  that  the  wounded 
man  should  make  a  deposition  before  a  magistrate,  so  that  if  any- 


156  HARRY  CO VERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

thing  were  to  happen,  the  jury  mio^ht  have  the  advantage  of  his 
statement  of  facts.  Coverdale,  therefore,  having  persuaded  one  of 
his  brother  magistrates  to  accompany  him,  proceeded  to  the  cottage 
for  the  above  pui"pose.  Shoi-tly  after  he  had  set  off,  Alice  waa 
informed  that  a  poor  woman  was  desirous  of  speaking  to  her ;  and 
on  ordering  her  to  be  shown  in,  she  was  less  surprised  than 
embaiTassed  to  recognize  in  the  tearful  applicant  her  cottage 
hostess,  the  wife  of  the  culprit,  Jack  Hargrave.  The  result  of  the 
interview  may  be  easily  foreseen.  Alice  descanted  on  the  greatness 
of  the  crime  committed,  Mr.  Coverdale's  virtuous  indignation  against 
the  offendei's,  and  the  consequent  difficulty  of  persuading  him  not  to 
prosecute  them.  Mrs.  Jack  brought  foi'ward,  in  reply,  the  l)aby  and 
a  flood  of  tears, — arguments  so  xmanswerable  that  Alice,  having 
kissed  the  one,  and  all  but  joined  in  the  other,  dismissed  the  afflicted 
matron,  having  renewed  her  pledge  of  exerting  her  whole  influence 
in  favour  of  the  prisoners.  It  was  with  a  feeling  akin  to  desperation 
that  she  determined  to  plead  her  prot^g^es'  cause  the  moment  Harry 
should  return,  certain  that  if  she  again  allowed  her  ardour  to  cool, 
she  should  never  have  courage  to  enter  upon  the  subject  to  him. 
Accordingly,  as  soon  as  he  had  finished  giving  her  an  account  of  the 
clear  and  able  manner  in  which  Markum  had  detailed  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  eventful  night  on  which  the  affray  had  occurred,  she 
began, — 

"  I,  too,  have  had  rather  a  tiying  interview  ;  the  wife  of  one  of  the 
men  who  have  been  taken  up  on  suspicion  has  been  here — a  frail, 
delicate-looking,  young  creature,  scarcely  more  than  a  girl,  with  the 
dearest,  sweetest  little  baby  imaginable.  I  do  so  wish  you  had  seen 
it!" 

HaiTy  muttered  a  reply,  which,  though  scarcely  audible,  conveyed 
the  impression  that  he  was  perfectly  content  without  haWng  had 
ocular  demonstration  of  its  infantine  perfections ;  and  Alice 
continued, — 

"  Yes,  I  wish  you  had  seen  both  mother  and  child — its  sweet, 
innocent  looks,  and  the  poor  girl's  tears,  would  have  pleaded  her 
cause  better  than  any  arguments  of  mine  can  do,  your  kind  heart 
could  never  have  resisted  them." 

"  Plead  her  cause,"  repeated  Coverdale  ;  "  that  means,  because  her 
husband  and  his  accomplice  have  been  so  obliging  as  to  destroy  my 
game,  and  murder,  or  half  murder,  as  the  case  may  prove,  my  head 
keeper,  she  considers  it  my  duty  to  support  herself  and  family,  I 
suppose ;  she  has  brought  this  irresistible  baby  as  a  safe  dodge  to 
work  upon  yom*  feminine  susceptibiUties ;  and,  with  thorough 
woman's  logic,  she  has  persuaded  you  to  look  upon  her  as  a  suffering 
innocent,  and  upon  me  as  a  tyrannical  oppressor.  Now  confess — is 
not  this  the  truth  ?  " 

"  No,  really  it  is  not,"  replied  Alice  eagerly.  "  I  own  I  think  you, 
from  your  passion  for  field-sports,  take  rather  an  exaggerated  vievf 
of  the  crime  of  poaching ;  but  I  quite  feel  as  you  do.  that  wounding 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  157 

poor  Markum  was  a  cruel  and  cowardly  act ;  still,  revenging  it  upon 
this  family  wiU  not  benefit  him  nor  ourselves." 

"  I  don't  wish  the  people  to  stai've,  of  course,"  returned  Hari-y, 
moodily,  "  though  I  should  imagine  the  young  woman  and  her  brats 
can  scarcely  have  got  through  all  the  game  in  her  larder  yet.  I 
should  not  mind  starving  on  hashed  hare  and  broiled  pheasants'  legs 
myself  for  a  week  or  two ;  however,  if  the  poor  gii-l  really  is  in  want, 
I  have  no  objection  to  your  relieving  her,  but  do  not  be  imposed 
upon,  darling,  that  is  all  that  I  mean  to  say." 

The  kindness  of  her  husband's  manner,  and  the  good-natured  way 
in  which  he  appeared  willing  to  support  the  family  of  the  man  who 
had  injured  him.  served  alike  to  remove  Alice's  fears,  and  to  lead 
her  to  oveiTate  the  extent  of  her  influence  with  her  husband ;  so, 
leaning  her  arm  on  his  shoulder,  while  with  her  other  hand  she 
smoothed  back  his  clustering  hair,  she  continued,  "  What  a  good, 
kind  boy  it  is,  though  it  does  growl  sometimes.  But  now,  to  show 
you  that  my  protegee  is  not  seeking  to  impose  on  me  for  the  sake  of 
obtaining  money,  I  will  tell  you  that  her  petition  was  for  quite  a 
different  object,  and  one  ci'editable  alike  to  her  feelings  as  a  wife  and 
a  sister :  she  wants  you  to  act  as  only  a  high  and  generous  nature 
like  your  own  would  be  capable  of  acting — she  implores  you  to 
pardon  her  husband  and  her  brother." 

"  To  do  WHAT !  "  exclaimed  Hari-y  sharply,  a  dark  shade  coming 
across  his  features. 

"To  let  off  two  of  the  men  who  were  engaged  in  this  unlucky 
business — her  husband  and  her  brother — not  to  prosecute  them,  I 
mean."  returned  Alice,  removing  her  hand  from  her  husband's 
shoulder  and  preparing  to  '"  hold  her  own,"  in  the  dispute  she  fore- 
saw impending. 

"  And  their  names  ?  "  inquired  Coverdale. 

Alice  repeated  them. 

"  As  I  expected,"  resumed  Coverdale ;  "  the  man  who  fired  the  shot 
and  his  accomplice,  who,  more  guilty  than  himself,  xirged  him  to  do 
it.  Now,  ask  your  own  good  sense,  Alice,  and  reflect  a  moment 
before  you  answer.  Even  were  I  willing,  can  I  in  common  justice  let 
these  fellows  off  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes  I "  exclaimed  Alice,  without  a  moment's  deliberation  ;  "  it 
is  so  great— so  noble  to  forgive  an  injui-y  !  Revenge  is  but  a  mean, 
petty  feeling,  after  all." 

"  An  admirable  reason  for  shaking  hands  with  an  individual  who 
has  knocked  you  down,"  returned  Coverdale,  "  but  none  whatsoever 
for  screening  two  malefactors  from  the  just  punishment  of  their  ill- 
deeds  ; "  then,  lapsing  into  the  magistrate,  he  continued,  "  You 
mistake  the  whole  scope  and  intention  of  our  penal  code,  my  dear 
Alice.  We  do  not  punish  offenders  as  an  act  of  revenge  upon  the 
individual,  but  in  order  to  benefit  society  by  deten*ing  others  from 
committing  a  like  crime ;  thus,  laying  aside  personal  feeling,  I 
should    be    doing    an    injury    to    the    community   at    large,    by 


158  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

refusing  to  prosecute  these  fellows.  You  see  this  clearly,  do  you 
not?" 

Alice's  reasoninff  powers  did  see  it,  and  had  seen  it  all  alonof,  but 
Alice  had  also  seen  the  poor  wife  and  the  meritorious  and  seductive 
baby,  and  she  cared  "  fifty  thousand  times  "  (as  she  herself  would 
have  expressed  it)  more  for  them  than  for  the  community  at  larsre  ; 
so  finding  that  the  argument  was  going  against  her,  she,  woman-like, 
adroitly  shifted  her  ground.  "  According  to  your  reasoning,  there 
woiild  be  no  room  for  such  a  quality  as  mercy,"  she  began  ;  "  stem, 
inexorable  justice  would  condemn  every  criminal,  no  matter  what 
extenuating  circumstances  there  might  be;  in  each  case  punishment 
must  follow  sin,  as  effect  follows  cause.  I,  for  one,  should  be  very 
sorry  always  to  be  judged  by  such  a  cruel  rule." 

"  Oh.  if  you're  going  to  put  German  metaphysical  sophistries  in 
the  place  of  English  common-sense,  I've  no  more  to  say  about  it." 
I'etunied  Harry  giniffly ;  "  only  it  seems  to  my  simplicity  that  punish- 
ment always  does  follow  crime  in  this  world,  as  soon  as  it's  found 
out.  If  a  brat  steals  the  sugar,  its  mother  slaps  it ;  if  a  schoolboy 
prigs  apples,  the  master  flogs  him ;  if  an  apprentice  bolts  with  the 
till,  the  law  transports  him  ;  if  Jack  murders  Tom.  the  hangman 
stretches  his  neck  for  him  ; — and  serve  'em  all  right  say  I ;  it  would 
be  a  precious  deal  worse  world  to  live  in  if  it  were  not  so,  to  my 
thinking." 

Alice  paused  to  consider  the  justice  of  this  remai'k — we  will  follow 
her  example ! 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

H0V7   TO   MAKE   HOME   HAPPY. 

Mrs.  Coverdale,  resuming  the  matrimonial  discussion  broken  off 
at  the  end  of  the  last  chapter,  thus  pursued  the  argument  by  which 
she  hoped  to  induce  her  husband  to  let  off  her  poaching  protege. 

"  In  the  present  case  the  innocent  must  suffer  with  the  guilty.  I 
see  no  justice  in  ruining  a  poor  family  by  imprisoning  or  transport- 
ing the  only  member  who  is  able  to  work  and  support  it." 

"  The  said  member  should  have  thought  of  that  himself," 
returned  Harry ;  "  if  he  had  been  working  and  supporting  his 
family,  he  would  have  been  safe  fi'om  transportation,  like  any  other 
honest  man ;  but  as  he  preferred  to  steal  my  game  and  shoot  my 
keeper,  he  thereby  deprived  his  family  of  .the  pleasure  of  his  inestim- 
able society  ;  it  is  he,  therefore,  who  has  brought  this  evil  upon  them. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  159 

not  I ;  and  when  I  consent  to  your  relieving  their  necessities  out  of 
my  pocket,  I  think  I  am  doing,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  as  mnch  as  any 
reasonable  woman  ous^ht  to  expect  of  me." 

Despite  her  prejudices  in  favom*  of  the  seraphic  baby  and  its 
interesting  mother,  Alice  felt  the  tiiith  of  her  husband's  reasoning  ; 
but  she  had  boasted  of  her  power  too  confidently,  and  pledged  her- 
self to  exert  it  too  deeply,  to  retreat;  so,  perceiving  that  argiiment 
woidd  avail  her  nothing,  she  was  obliged  to  fall  back  upon  woman's 
last  resoiu'ce — personal  influence,  and  strive  to  win  from  Hairy's 
affection  that  which  his  reason  had  denied  her.  A  dangerous  experi- 
ment, pretty  Alice !  and  one  in  which,  if  your  philosophy  did  but  go 
deep  enough  to  enable  you  to  discern  it,  you  would  perceive  success 
to  be  a  greater  evil  than  failure,  for  it  would  argue  culpable  weakness 
in  him  on  whom  jou  have  to  lean  for  support  through  life.  But 
Alice  was  by  no  means  in  an  ethical  frame  of  mind  at  that  moment, 
and  cared  only  for  obtaining  her  point  by  any  means  which  occurred 
to  her ;  so,  drawing  a  stool  close  to  Han-y,  she  meekly  seated  herself 
at  his  feet,  and  looking  up  into  his  face  with  her  large  imploring 
eyes,  began  coaxingly,  "  Han-y,  deai",  ai-e  you  quite,  quite  determined 
to  say  No  ?  " 

An  affirmative  bend  of  the  head  was  the  only  reply. 

"  Biit  if  I  make  it  a  personal  request,"  she  continued,  laying  her 
soft  cheek  caressingly  against  his  hand ;  "  if  I  ask  you  to  forgive 
these  men  for  my  sake,  and  so  afPord  me  the  exquisite  pleasure  of 
making  this  poor  woman  happy  ?  Oh  !  you  will  not  refuse  me.  If 
you  do,  I  shall  think  you  do  not  love  me.     Come,  you  will  say  Yes." 

Poor  Hany !  he  was  sorely  perplexed.  Had  it  been  any  personal 
sacrifice — even  a  pledge  to  give  up  hunting  or  shooting — which  she 
required  of  him,  he  would  gladly  have  yielded,  in  the  true  and  deep 
tenderaess  towards  his  wife  which  his  late  self-examination  had 
aroused.  But  the  serious  thoughts  which  a  review  of  his  past  eiTOrs 
had  called  forth,  while  they  pointed  out  to  him  how  he  had  failed  in 
his  duty  to  her  whom  he  had  vowed  to  love  and  pi'otect,  also  proved 
to  him  that  whei'e  Alice  was  inclined  to  act  wrongly,  or  foolishly,  he 
was  bound  to  save  her  even  from  herself  ;  and  his  clear,  good  sense 
instantly  told  him  that  this  was  a  request  which  she  ought  not  to 
have  urged,  since  to  grant  it  would  necessitate  a  sacrifice  of  principle 
on  his  part.    Accordingly,  he  replied, — 

"  Alice  love,  listen  to  me ;  this  is  not  a  mere  matter  of  pex-sonal 
feeling,  or  I  would  jaeld  to  you  withoiit  a  moment's  hesitation,  but 
it  involves  a  question  of  right  and  wrong.  I  could  not  i-efuse  to 
prosecute  these  men  without  diffusing  an  amount  of  moral  evil 
amongst  the  whole  of  my  poorer  tenantry,  which  years  of  the  most 
careful  supei-vision  would  fail  to  eradicate.  The  utmost  I  can 
promise  you  is,  that  the  culprits  shall  have  every  opportunity 
afforded  them  of  clearing  themselves  ;  and  if,  as  I  am  convinced, 
that  proves  impossible,  every  palliating  circumstance  shall  be 
brought  forward  and    allowed  its  fullest  weight.    I  have  already 


160  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

given  you  my  fvee  permission  to  assist  tlie  poor  woman  and  lier 
children,  and  more  than  this  you  cannot  expect  me  to  say." 

"  But  I  do,  or  rather  I  did,  expect  you  to  say  more,"  returned 
Alice,  with  flashing  eyes  and  glowing  cheeks  ;  "  I  expected  you  to  say 
what  I  would  have  said  to  you,  if  you  had  appealed  to  me  thus — that 
there  was  nothing,  even  if  it  were  life  itself,  that  I  would  not  give 
up  for  your  sake.  But  I  see  how  it  is,  you  do  not  really  care  for  me, 
or,  if  you  do,  man's  love  is  not  like  woman's  ;  it  is  merely  the  excite- 
ment of  the  pursuit  that  interests  you — the  prize  once  attained 
becomes  valueless  in  your  eyes  :  in  fact,  love,  which  makes  the  entire 
joy  or  soiTOw  of  a  woman's  life,  is  to  men  but  a  superior  kind  of 
sporting — more  engrossing  than  a  fox-chase,  or  than  hunting  a  poor 
stag  to  death,  simply  because  the  game  is  of  a  higher  order."  She 
paused  to  give  vent  to  a  sob  which  she  was  unable  entirely  to  repress, 
then  continued  in  a  sarcastic  tone  of  voice  :  "  However,  mighty  hunter 
as  you  are,  I  do  not  intend  to  give  you  the  satisfaction  of  being  in  at 
Tny  death ;  I  have  too  much  of  the  old  Hazlehurst  spirit  about  me  to 
break  my  heart  for  a  man  who  does  not  love  me.  There  is  a  quiet 
way,  as  you  call  it,  of  an-anging  these  affairs :  you  have  yoiir  own 
I)iu-suits  and  amusements,  henceforward  I  shall  have  mine.  You 
need  not  di-ead  my  again  attempting  to  interfere  either  with  your 
pleasui-es,  or  your  graver  occupations.  I  have  had  too  severe  a 
lesson  on  each  point  to  forget  it  readily.  But  I  expect  you  to 
exercise  the  same  forbearance  towards  me.  From  this  day  forth  we 
each  follow  our  ovra  line !  "  and,  di-awing  her  shawl  over  her  shoulders, 
with  an  imperious  gesture,  as  of  an  offended  queen,  Alice  swept  out 
of  the  room,  leaving  Han-y  in  a  frame  of  mind  which  may  be  more 
easily  imagined  than  described. 

A  complete  change,  which  might  have  been  dated  from  the  above 
conversation,  appeared  to  have  taken  place  in  Alice  Coverdale. 
Instead  of  shrinking,  as  she  had  hitherto  done,  from  society,  she 
rather  courted  it  than  otherwise — ordering  the  carriage,  and  visiting 
the  different  families  in  the  neighbourhood,  without  consulting 
Harry  on  the  subject,  or  seeming  to  care  in  the  slightest  degree 
whether  he  accompanied  her  or  not.  At  first  this  conduct  on  his 
wife's  part  occasioned  Coverdale  the  greatest  uneasiness  ;  but,  after 
a  time,  seeing  that  she  was  amused  and  interested  by  the  new 
acquaintances  she  thus  formed,  he  began  to  hope  that  good  might 
perhaps  come  out  of  evil,  and  that  the  intimacies  then  commenced 
might  afford  sources  of  lasting  pleasm-e  when  the  feeling  of  pique 
which  had  led  her  to  seek  them  should  have  long  since  died  away. 
And  so  the  time  glided  on,  working  its  usual  changes  in  men  and 
things  as  it  passed  away. 

Mr.  Gouger  having  ventured  one  day  to  commit  himself  to  the 
rash  assertion  that  Markum  was  sinking  rapidly,  and  could  not 
possibly  survive  the  week,  from  that  hour  the  gamekeeper  began  to 
amend,  and  had  sufficiently  advanced  in  bis  progress  towards 
recovery  to  be  able  to  appear  and  give  evidence  in  person,  when  Jack 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  161 

Har^rave  and  his  accomplice  took  their  tnal  at  the  next  assizes.  So 
unmistakably  was  their  guilt  brought  home  to  them  that  they  were 
each  sentenced  to  seven  years'  transportation,  and  would  probably 
have  had  fourteen  allotted  to  them,  but  for  the  thorough  good  faith 
with  which  Harry  redeemed  his  promise  to  Alice  that  every 
extenuating  circumstance  should  be  clearly  placed  before  the  jury. 
Indeed,  he  laboured  so  strenuously  to  impress  this  point  upon  the 
counsel  for  the  prisoners,  that  the  learned  brother,  entertaining  a 
proper  degree  of  professional  scepticism  in  regard  to  the  purity  of 
human  motives,  immediately  settled,  to  his  o^vn  satisfaction,  that 
Jack  Hargrave  must  be  a  natural  son  of  the  late  Admiral  Coverdale, 
commended,  with  his  dying  breath,  to  his  nephew's  especial  care  and 
protection.  Alice  received  the  news  of  the  verdict  with  great  sang- 
froid, merely  remarking  that  she  had  felt  certain  all  along  that  it 
would  be  so;  but  when  she  had  gained  the  privacy  of  her  own 
chamber  she  indulged  in  a  hearty  flood  of  tears,  occasioned  as  much 
by  what  she  was  pleased  to  consider  her  husband's  inhumanity  as 
by  he)-  compassion  for  the  poor  woman  and  her  transcendental  baby. 

As  these  latter  individuals  exercise  no  further  influence  over  the 
destinies  of  our  principal  "  dramatis  persona;,"  we  may  as  well,  ere 
we  finally  take  leave  of  them  add  the  information  that  Alice  (having 
supported  them  much  l^etter  than  Jack  Hargrave  had  done  in  his 
best  days),  at  the  expiration  of  two  years  sent  them  out  at  her  own 
expense  to  join  that  worthy,  who,  reformed  by  sea  sickness  and  the 
amenities  of  convict  discipline,  had  obtained  a  ticket  of  leave,  by 
reason  of  which  privilege  he  was  enacting  the  part  of  a  penitent 
buUock-diiver,  to  the  admii-ation  of  all  right-minded  settlers  in 
Australia. 

The  month  of  May  had  begun  to  temper  with  a  dash  of  simshine 
the  fine  old  English  east  winds  of  April,  which  annually  sow  their 
share  of  the  seeds  of  consumption  in  the  glorious  British  constitu- 
tion—Harry Coverdale  had  ceased  to  oppress  the  brute  creation, 
leaving  foxes  and  pheasants  to  increase  and  multiply  by  antagonistic 
progression— and  all  London  was  flocking  to  the  Royal  Academy 
Exhibition,  to  see  a  great  many  very  original  portraits  of  gentlemen, 
who  scarcely  looked  the  character  after  all— when  one  fine  morning 
Alice  received  a  letter  from  the  modern  Babylon  in  Mrs.  Crane's 
handwriting.     Having  eagerly  perused  it,  she  exclaimed,— 

"  Kate  has  written  a  most  kind  and  pressing  invitation  to  us  to 
come  and  stay  with  them ;  Mr.  Crane  wishes  it  as  much  as  she 
does." 

"  Or  as  much  as  she  orders  him  to  do  rather,"  muttered  Coverdale, 
'  sotto  voce.' 

"  Of  course  you  can  have  no  objection  to  my  accepting  it,"  con- 
tinued Alice  ;  "  for  myself,  at  all  events  ?  " 

"  Am  not  I  invited  ?  "  inquired  Harry  gravely. 

"  Yes,  certainly  ;  only  I  did  not  know  whether  you  could  tear  your- 
self away  from  your  dearly  beloved  dogs  and  guns." 

M 


162  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  And  you  were  willing  to  have  gone  without  me  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  wish  to  be  any  tie  upon  you,"  was  Alice's  reply,  though 
she  coloured  slightly  and  tunied  away  her  head  as  she  spoke. 
"  You  remember  our  compact;  I  am  a  great  advocate  for  free  will." 

"  Between  husband  and  wife  such  a  question  ought  never  to  arise," 
rejoined  Harry  seriously  biit  kindly ;  "  there  should  be  complete 
imanimity.    I  hoped  you  had  forgotten  all  that  folly." 

"  I  never  forget  uukindness,"  was  the  cold  reply  ;  "  but  I  see  you 
are  going  to  favour  me  with  a  specimen  of  your  '  quiet  manner,'  and 
as  I  am  not  in  the  humour  for  a  scene  or  a  lecture,  you  really  must 
excuse  my  leaving  you;"  and  as  she  spoke  she  rose  to  quit  the 
apartment. 

For  a  moment  Han*y's  eyes  flashed,  then  a  look  of  pain  passed 
across  his  features,  and,  taking  his  wife's  hand,  he  led  her  back  to 
the  sofa  on  which  she  had  been  seated,  saying  gently,  but  i-eproach- 
fully,- 

"  Why  will  you  misunderstand  me  thus  ?  You  wish  to  accept  your 
cousin's  invitation  ?"' 

Alice  bowed  her  head  in  token  of  assent. 

"  Then  write  and  tell  her  we  shall  be  happy  to  do  so ;  I  shall  be 
ready  and  willing  to  accompany  you  at  whatever  time  you  and  she 
like  to  arrange  together." 

"  Oh,  that  is  very  nice  and  kind  of  yon  ! "  returned  Alice,  "  de- 
lighted at  getting  her  way  so  easily ;  I  thought  you  were  going  to 
be  cross  and  disagreeable,  as — as  you  sometimes  are." 

"  As  usual,  you  were  going  to  say,"  rejoined  Hairy ;  "  speak  yoiu* 
thoughts  honestly,  whatever  injustice  they  may  do  me.  But  if,  in 
future,  instead  of  condemning  me  unheard,  you  were  to  admit  the 
possibility — nothing  more — of  my  being  willing  occasionally  to 
sacrifice  my  wishes  to  yours,  it  might  save  us  both  considerable  pain 
and  misconception ;  recollect  this,  and  reflect  upon  it  quietly  and 
calmly."  So  saying,  he  lilaced  his  wife's  writing-table  before  her, 
found  her  a  foot-stool,  and  left  the  room. 

As  the  soimd  of  his  retreating  footsteps  died  away  in  the  distance, 
Alice  felt  decidedly  penitent,  and  wished  she  could  unsay  all  the 
sharp  things  she  had  uttered  at  the  beginning  of  the  conversation ; 
but  this  was  a  frame  of  mind  too  uncomfoi-table  to  last  long,  and  so 
she  consoled  herself  by  the  reflection  that  if,  on  this  particular 
occasion,  she  had  done  her  husband  an  injustice,  it  was  his  conduct 
at  other  times  which  had  led  her  to  do  so.  It  was  imfair  to  blame 
herself  for  the  natural  effect  his  selfishness  and  unkiudness  had 
produced  tipon  her  mind;  she  was  sure  there  had  been  a  period, 
before  she  was  so  rudely  awakened  from  her  "love's  young  dream," 
when  she  had  given  him  credit  for  possessing  every  noble,  heroic, 
and  tender  quality  under  the  sun  :  it  was  not  her  fault  that  she  could 
think  so  no  longer — people  must  take  the  consequences  of  their  own 
misdeeds.  And  so,  consoling  herself  with  these  and  many  like 
arguments,  and  magnifying  the  mote    in  her   husband's  eye  and 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  163 

ignoring  the  beam  in  her  o^vn,  Alice  talked  herself  into  her  former 
frame  of  mind,  and  sat  down  to  write  her  acceptance  of  Kate's 
invitation,  convinced  that  if  her  husband  had  said  "  Yes  "  on  this 
occasion,  he  woiild  say  "  No  "  on  evei*y  other. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

INTRODUCES  A  LORDLY  GALLANT. 

That  day  week  saw  Alice,  Han-y,  and  Celeste  (a  little  pert '  soubrette,' 
whom  Alice  had  brought  back  from  Pains  \vith  her)  on  their  way  to 

the  railway  station  at  H ,  a  gi'oom  and  a  couple  of  saddle-horses 

(without  which  Harry  could  not  support  the  burden  of  a  London 
life)  having  preceded  them  by  a  slower  train.  As  HaiTy  had  a  great 
hoiTor  of  being  too  late,  and  had  flumed  and  bustled  Alice  to  such  a 
degree  that,  if  she  had  not  been  the  most  good-natured  little  woman 
in  the  world  (except  in  matters  connected  with  the  feelings),  she 
would  assuredly  have  lost  her  temper,  of  course  they  wei'e  at  least  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  too  soon,  and  were  forced  to  promenade  up  and 
down  beneath  a  Brobdignagian  glass  roof,  open  at  each  end,  and 
enjoy  the  lai-ge  supply  of  draughts  afforded  by  this  ingenious 
compromise  between  indoors  and  out  of  doors.  Having  paced  up 
and  down  the  platform  for  some  ten  minutes  or  so — lost  Celeste  and 
the  trunks,  and  found  them  again — and  narrowly  escaped  violent 
death  from  wild  luggage-barrows,  m-ged  by  reckless  and  excited 
porters,  neatly  bound  in  gi-een  corduroy  and  numbered  like  the  lots 
in  a  sale-room, — the  train  by  which  they  were  to  fly  to  London 
crawled  uj)  ignominiously  at  the  tail  of  a  strong-minded  cai't  horse, 
which  a  heroic  but  unclean  supernumerary  conducted  in  the  way  he 
should  go.  Just  as  Alice  had  taken  her  seat,  and  was  imploring 
Harry  to  join  her  before  a  dreadful  green  dragon  of  a  locomotive 
engine  (which  had  been  getting  up  its  steam,  and  taking  in  its  fuel, 
and  wetting  its  whistle,  and  otherwise  pei-foi-ming  its  awful  toilet  in 
a  neighbouring  cavern,  whence  it  issued  looking  as  vicious,  and 
dangerous,  and  eager  to  burst  in  a  tunnel  as  a  furious  steam-devil 
could  do)  should  get  at  him  and  do  him  a  mischief,  a  tall  elegant- 
looking  young  man,  who  was  seeking  for  an  unoccupied  place, 
suddenly  exclaimed, — 

"  I  beg  pardon,  but  surely  I  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Han-y — a 
—that  is— Mr.  Coverdale  ?  " 

"  A  true  bill,  sir,"  replied  Han-y ;  "  but  just  at  present  you've  all 
the  pleasure  to  yoiu-self ,  for  I  must  honestly  confess  that  I  do  not 


164  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

recollect  you ;    and  yet — no— yes — why,  it   can't   be   little   Alfred 
Courtland  P  " 

"As  for  the  '  little,' I  must  leave  you  to  judge  for  yourself;  the 
copy-books  tell  us  that  '  ill  weeds  grow  apace,'  and  I'm  afraid  I'm  a 
shocking  example ;  but  Alfred  Courtland  I  most  certainly  am,  and 
delighted  tx)  meet  an  old  acquaintance — if  an  lu-chin  in  the  under- 
school  dare  pretend  to  have  been  on  such  a  footing  with  one  of  the 
sixth  form." 

"Little  Alfred  Couiiland,  six  feet  high,  and  cultivating  whiskers  ! 
Wonders  will  never  cease,"  resumed  Harry,  meditatively ;  "  but  are 
you  going  by  this  train  ?  Jump  in  here,  man,  and  I'll  introduce  you 
to  my  wife.  Alice,  this  is  Alfred — I  beg  his  pardon,  but  I  can't 
remember  he's  not  a  little  boy  still  —Lord  Alfred  Courtland.  You 
remember  Arthur  Hazlehurst,  my  '  fidus  Achates,'  don't  you.  Court- 
land  ?  My  wife  is  his  sister.  Tickets  !  well,  here  they  are.  What  a 
suspicious  generation  these  railway  ofiBcials  are !  anybody  would 
suppose  they  had  been  accustomed  to  deal  with  thieves  and  pick- 
pockets all  their  lives,  instead  of  honest  Englishmen.  But  I  hate 
the  railroads,  root  and  branch,  that's  a  fact ;  they've  ruined  the 
breed  of  horses  in  this  country." 

While  Harry  ran  on  in  this  style,  Alice  had  time  to  observe  her 
new  acquaintance  more  attentively.  He  appeared  very  young, 
scarcely  above  nineteen  or  twenty.  His  figure,  though  tall  and 
graceful,  was  slight  and  boyish  ;  his  head  was  smaU  and  well  set  on, 
and  his  pale,  delicate  features  were  shaded  by  a  profusion  of  fair 
curling  hair;  while  his  bearing  and  appeai-ance  were  singularly 
refined  and  aristocratic ;  or,  as  Harry  afterwards  observed,  "  He 
looked  thoroughbred,  eveiy  inch  of  him."  His  expression  was  good 
and  amiable;  but  a  want  of  firmness  and  resolution  a1)Out  the  lines 
of  his  mouth  belied  the  promise  of  intellect  afforded  by  his  high 
smooth  brow,  and  bright,  speaking  eyes. 

"  And  what  are  you  doing  with  yourself  ? "  inquired  Coverdale, 
after  si;ndi'y  mi;tual  acquaintances  had  been  talked  over  and  the 
reminiscences  usual  between  old  schoolfellows  ran  through ;  "  are 
you  at  either  of  the  universities  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I'm  a  Cantab,"  was  the  reply ;  "  but  scarcely  more  than 
nominally  so,  for  during  my  first  term  I  got  a  tumble  into  the  Cam, 
boating — dined  at  Ely  in  my  wet  clothes,  and  was  rewarded  for  my 
carelessness  by  an  aguish  low  fever,  which  I  am  only  now  recovering 
from ;  so  I  am  ordered  to  be  perfectly  idle  and  amuse  myself — a 
prescription  which,  I  am  afraid,  agi'ees  but  too  well  with  my  tastes 
and  habits." 

"  And  finding  country  ingredients  too  mild,  you  are  going  to  town 
to  try  and  get  a  stronger  dose  there,  I  suppose  ?  "  inquii-ed  Harry. 

"  You  must  be  a  wizard,"  was  the  reply.  "  The  fact  is,  my  people 
have  wintered  abroad,  and  Chiselborough  became  so  duU  the  moment 
the  hunting  was  over,  that  I  found '  ennui '  was  bringing  my  ague  back 
again;   so  holding  solemn  conclave  with  the  apothecary  and  my 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  165 

valet,  we  yesterday  decided,  '  nem.  con.,'  upon  a  couple  of  months' 
sojourn  in  the  modera  Babylon." 

To  this  piece  of  intelligence  Hari-y  vouchsafed  no  further  answer 
than  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders  by  which  significant  gesture  he 
intended  to  telegraph  to  his  wife  his  opinion  as  to  the  wisdom  of 
trasting  the  young  gentleman  to  his  own  sapient  guidance  amidst 
the  shoals  and  quicksands  of  a  London  season.  At  this  period 
the  dragon,  which  had  been  drawing  the  train  very  quietly  and 
peacefully,  suddenly  gave  a  prolonged  scream  (by  courtesy  termed  a 
whistle),  panted  violently,  hissed  a  good  deal,  and  having  by  these 
manoeuvres  "  blown  off  "  its  superfluous  steam,  it  kindly  postponed 
bursting  for  a  short  time,  and  condescended  obligingly  to  stop  at 
the  Tearem  and  Smashingly  Junction,  without  demanding  any 
immediate  sacrifice  of  human  life.  Coverdale  and  Lord  Alfred 
instantly  jumped  out  (although  perfectly  aware  that  they  should  be 
obliged  to  jump  in  again  at  the  expiration  of  three  minutes  and  a 
quarter),  and,  after  the  fashion  of  impatient  male  humanity,  which, 
as  Harry  somewhat  paradoxically  observed,  "  Cannot  stand  sitting," 
began  stamping  up  and  down  the  platform  as  though  a  legion  of 
black-beetles,  or  some  such  entymological  freebooters,  had  crept  up 
their  trousers'  legs,  and  they  were  striving  to  dislodge  them.  Some 
operation,  however,  which  was  going  on  under  one  of  those  queer 
kind  of  sheds  peculiar  to  railway  stations,  which  give  one  an  idea  of  a 
child's  toy  magnified,  attracted  their  attention  and  caused  them  to 
discontinue  their  amusement.  After  gazing  earnestly  for  a  few 
seconds,  Harry  exclaimed, — 

"  They'll  never  do  it  so,  never !  There,  do  you  see,  he's  standing 
right  before  him,  dragging  at  his  head,  and  yet  expects  the  poor 
animal  to  go  on  ;  the  man  must  be  an  idiot !  Yes,  of  course,  hit  the 
poor  thing  for  your  own  fault,  and  frighten  him,  so  that  you'll  be 
able  to  do  nothing  with  him.  Ah !  I  thought  so ;  they'll  have  an 
accident  directly,  the  fools !  as  if  there  wasn't  a  quiet  manner  of 
doing  these  things.  Hold  my  great  coat,  Alfred  ;  I  shall  be  back  in 
two  seconds."  And  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he  tossed  his 
coat  to  his  companion  and  ran  off. 

"  Where  has  he  gone  to  ?  "  inquired  Alice  disconsolately,  from  the 
window  of  the  railway  carriage. 

"  To  assist  a  stvipid  groom  to  put  a  very  fine  horse  into  one  of  the 
horse-boxes,"  was  the  reply.  "  He  said  he  should  be  back  in  a 
minute." 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  take  your  places ;  the  train's  going  to  start — 
take  your  places,"  vociferated  an  individual,  who  looked  like  a  very 
oddly-dressed  soldier,  but  who  was  the  railway  guard. 

"  Oh  !  where  can  he  be  P  We  shall  start  without  him  !  "  exclaimed 
Alice  in  dismay. 

"  I'll  go  and  look  for  him,"  rejoined  Lord  Alfred  good-naturedly. 

"  If  you  would  be  so  very  kind,"  returned  Alice,  her  lovely  eyes 
sparkling  with  gratitude. 


166  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

» 
"Better  not,  sir;  only  lose  your  own  place,  without  finding  the 

gent — train's  agoin'  to  start.    I  must  shut  the  door,"  grumbled  a 

cynical  porter. 

"  Pray  keep  it  open  till  the  last  moment ! "  exclaimed  Alice, 
drawing  out  her  purse,  while  Lord  Alfred,  disregarding  the  porter's 
advice,  dashed  off  on  his  mission. 

"  Am  I  allowed  to  give  you  anything  ?  "  continued  Alice  timidly, 
as  a  vague  suspicion  of  the  illegality  of  bribing  railway  porters 
flashed  across  her. 

The  man  looked  up  and  down  the  platform,  and  perceiving  no 
informer  near,  did  not  commit  himself  by  words,  but  partially 
closing  the  door,  so  as  to  conceal  the  action,  held  out  his  hand,  with 
the  palm  turaed  suggestively  upwards.  As  his  fingers  closed  over 
the  half-crown  which  Alice,  with  a  strong  idea  that  she  was  commit- 
ting an  indictable  offence,  placed  within  his  grasp,  an  angry  and 
imperative  voice  called  out,  "  Now  then,  shut  that  door  there !  "  and 
in  spite  of  Alice's  remonstrances,  the  poi-ter  was  about  to  obey,  when, 
bi'eathless  with  running.  Lord  Alfred  sprang  into  the  carnage,  the 
door  was  slammed  to,  a  bell  rang  furiously,  the  dragon  gave  a  short, 
pert  scream  of  delight  at  getting  its  head,  and  the  train  started. 
Unheeding,  in  fact,  scarcely  hearing  Lord  Alfred's  mild  remonstrance 
that  he  believed  it  was  reckoned  dangerous  to  put  one's  head  out  of 
the  window  of  a  railway  can-iage,  Alice  immediately  committed  that 
folly,  and  was  rewarded  for  her  impnidence  by  seeing,  just  as  the 
train  was  getting  to  its  full  speed,  Harry  rush  distractedly  on  to  the 
platform,  shake  his  fist  at  the  reti'eating  carnages,  and  then,  watch 
in  hand,  stride  up  to  the  station  master,  and  evidently  afford  him  a 
specimen  of  his  quiet  manner.  With  a  feeling  half  way  between  an 
inclination  to  laugh  and  a  disposition  to  cry,  Alice  resumed  her  seat, 
and,  imder  pretence  of  arranging  her  veil,  took  a  glance  roimd  the 
cari'iage.  Her  only  companion,  besides  Lord  Alfred  Courtland,  was 
a  species  of  prize  old  gentleman,  who  having  spent  his  life  hitherto 
in  gi-owing  as  fat  as  the  nature  of  the  case  admitted,  was  evidently 
resolved  to  guard  against  the  possibility  of  his  shadow  becoming 
less,  by  devoting  the  remainder  of  his  existence  to  the  duties  of 
eating,  drinking,  and  sleeping,  which  latter  accomplishment  he  was 
then  displaying  to  the  admiration  of  all  lovers  of  that  science  of 
which  honest  Sancho  Panza  so  fervently  blessed  the  inventor. 
Having  mentally  summed  him  up  in  the  definition  "wi'etched  old 
thing,"  Alice  next  took  a  siu-vey  of  her  new  friend,  and  decided  that 
he  had  such  a  good,  innocent,  childlike  expression  of  countenance, 
that  young  and  handsome  as  he  was,  she  would  not  have  minded 
even  if  the  "  wretched  old  thing "  had  not  been  present  to  play 
chaperone  in  dumb  show. 

"  How  very  provoking  for  Mr.  Coverdale  to  lose  the  train,  and  all 
through  his  good-nature,  too,"  began  Lord  Alfred ;  "  I  saw  the 
affair  as  well  as  he  did,  but  it  would  never  have  occun-ed  to  me  to 
interfere." 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  167 

"Nor  to  anyone  else  except  to  Mr.  Coverdale,"  returned  Alice 
scornfully ;  "  his  devotion  to  horses  and  dogs  is  quite  exemplary." 

"  As  a  pattern  or  as  a  warning  ?  "  inquired  Lord  Alfred,  favouring 
her  with  a  look  of  intelligence  for  which  she  was  scarcely  prepared. 

"  You  ai'e  laughing  at  me,"  she  said  ;  "  but  I  will  honestly  confess 
that  it  is  rather  trying  to  see  Mr.  Coverdale  place  himself  and  me  in 
a  ridiculous,  if  not  actually  an  embarrassing  situation,  merely  for 
the  sake  of  a  horse." 

"  It  was  a  very  fine  horse,"  observed  Lord  Alfred  meditatively. 

"  And  therefore  the  worthier  animal  of  the  two — thank  you  for  the 
compliment,  my  lord,"  was  the  slightly  piqued  reply,  which  of  course 
produced  a  carefully  veiled  but  teasing  rejoinder ;  and  with  such 
like  light  badinage  did  they  beguile  the  time,  until  having  rushed 
for  some  distance  over  acres  of  turnips,  stubble,  grass-land,  and 
other  such  agricultural  territory,  changing  as  by  some  pantomimic 
agency  to  the  roofs  of  houses,  with  elegant  parterres  of  chimney- 
pots, they  were  surprised  to  find  they  had  reached  the  London 
terminus. 

The  cessation  of  movement  having  roused  the  prize  elder  from  his 
meritorious  slumbers,  Alice  waited  until,  with  many  snorts  and 
grunts  he  had  ai'oused  his  legs  (which  were  evidently  each  enjoying 
a  separate  and  independent  nap  of  its  own)  and  toddled  off  upon 
them  ere  she  inquired  in  rather  a  forlorn  tone,  "  and  now  I  wonder 
what  is  to  become  of  me?  Would  yon  kindly  ascertain  when  the 
next  train  will  be  in  ?  " 

Lord  Alfred  made  the  inquiry,  and  obtained  the  cheering  intelli- 
gence that  the  next  train  which  stopped  at  the  Tearem  and  Smash- 
ingly  Junction  wovild  amve  in  exactly  two  hours  fifteen  minutes  and 
a  quarter,  at  which  time,  as  nearly  as  Alice  could  calculate,  the 
Crane  butler  would  be  removing  the  fish  and  soup. 

"  It  is  impossible  that  you  can  wait  here  all  that  time,  my  dear 
Mrs.  Coverdale  !  "  exclaimed  Lord  Alfred.  "  What  will  you  like  me 
to  do  for  you  ?     You  must  tell  me  exactly  what  you  wish." 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  returned  Alice,  feeling  much  inclined  to  get 
into  a  fuss  at  the  odduess  of  the  situation  which  thus  forced  her  to 
rely  on  a  handsome  young  man  with  whom  she  had  been  acquainted 
some  two  hours.  Then  submitting  to  her  fate  with  a  feeling  of 
desperation,  she  continued,  "  First  give  me  your  arm,  and  conduct 
me  to  the  ladies'  waiting-room  ;  and  then  if  you  would  be  so  kind  as 
to  look  for  Celeste,  my  maid,  and — really  I  am  ashamed  to  trouble 
you,  my  lord,  but  there  are  some  trunks  she  ought  to  find,  and  she 
can't  speak  a  dozen  words  of  English  intelligibly;  and — how  you're 
to  recognize  her  I  can't  tell  ;  really  how  Mr.  Coverdale  could — " 

But  before  she  could  finish  her  accusatoi-y  sentence  Lord  Alfred, 
anxious  to  distinguish  himself  in  his  new  capacity  of  squii'e  of  dames, 
had  disappeared.  In  less  time  than  Alice  had  deemed  possible,  he 
i-etunied  with  Celeste  and  a  bundle  of  shawls  and  wi'appers  on  one 
arm,  and  carrying  a  carpet  bag  with  the  other. 


168  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  My  mission  has  been  accomplished  with  the  most  signal  success, 
I  flatter  myself  :  and  now  I  hope  your  difficulties  are  ended,  my  dear 
Mrs.  Coverdale ;  Celeste  and  I  have  found  all  the  trunks.  Fortu- 
nately, my  brougham  is  here,  and  I  need  scarcely  add,  entirely  at 
your  service."  Seeing  she  hesitated,  he  continixed,  "  Don't  be 
alarmed  about  the  propiueties,  I  have  been  too  well  drilled  in  such 
matters  by  my  sisters  to  intiiide  where  I  am  not  wanted." 

"  Really,  your  loi-dship  is  most  kind,"  exclaimed  Alice,  all  her 
scruples  vanishing  before  his  good-nature  and  consideration.  And 
there  being  nothing  for  it  but  to  take  his  arm  (relinquished  somewhat 
hastily  by  Celeste  when  she  discovered  that  it  was  a  '  milor  anglais  ' 
with  whom  she  had  made  so  free)  and  allow  him  to  put  her  into  the 
well-appointed  brougham,  Alice  did  so  with  an  interesting  succession 
of  smiles  and  blushes  which  made  her  look  most  dangerously  pretty. 
Thei'eupon  the  two  hundred  guinea  horse,  which  was  so  thoroughly 
stuffed  with  oats  that  it  might  almost  as  well  have  been  a  corn-bin, 
and  which,  being  an  animal  of  the  highest  breeding,  had  evinced 
such  an  amount  of  disgust  and  terror  at  the  hissing,  snorting, 
whistling,  and  other  low  habits  of  the  steam  dragon,  that  nothing 
but  the  strongest  sense  of  propriety  and  a  very  severe  curb  bit  could 
have  kept  it  from  running  away,  stood  on  its  hind  legs  like  a 
Christian,  vindicated  its  transcendentalism  by  salaaming  like  a  Turk 
ere  it  resumed  its  quadrupedal  attitude,  and  finally  set  off,  at  about 
the  rate  of  fifteen  miles  an  hour,  %vith  its  head  and  tail  as  erect  as  if 
some  invisible  giant  were  attempting  to  lift  it  up  by  them. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

SPIDERS  AND   FLIES. 

"  Mt  dear  Kate,  I  think  your  cousin,  Mrs.  Coverdale,  has  just  driven 
up ;  and  yet  I  don't  know.  Is  it  likely,  or,  as  I  may  say,  probable, 
that  she  should  arrive  in  a  brougham  ?  " 

"With  a  high-stepping  horse  and  a  coronet  on  the  panels? — 
scarcely,  I  should  imagine." 

The  speakers  were  Mr.  Crane,  who  had  grown  rather  less  like  a 
scaffold  pole  since  we  last  were  favom'ed  with  his  society,  and  Horace 
D'Almayne,  who  appeared  quite  himself  and  quite  at  home. 
Attracted  by  their  remarks,  Kate  joined  her  husband  at  the  window. 

"  It  can't  be  them,"  she  said,  "  there  is  no  luggage ;  "  but,  as  if  to 
contradict  her  remark,  at  the  moment  she  ceased  to  speak  a  cab 
dashed  into  Park  Lane  with  a  fair  amount  of  imperials,  cap-cases, 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  169 

poi-t-manteaus,  cai-pet-bags,  and  otlier  female  travelling  miscellanea, 
and  drew  up  behind  tlie  brougham.  As  it  stopped,  a  tall,  handsome 
yoimg  man  sprang  out ;  and  opening  the  door  of  the  brougham, 
offered  his  arm  to  Alice,  and  conducted  her  up  the  steps  most  care- 
fully. 

"  Why,  that  surely  cannot  be  Mr.  Coverdale  ;  or,  at  least,  if  I  may 
be  permitted  to  say  so,  he  has  become  singularly  thin  and— and 
youthful-looking,  if  it  is,"  bleated  Mr.  Crane. 

*'  No,  that  is  not  Han-y  Coverdale,"  returned  Kate  wonderingly, 
"  nor  do  I  see  anything  of  him  either !  " 

"  If  Mrs.  Coverdale  has  lost  her  husband,  really  she  has  found  a 
most  attractive  substitute— a— it  almost  seems  one  of  the  cases  in 
which  such  a  loss  might  be  considered  a  gain,"  lisped  D'Almayne,  in 
so  low  a  tone  that  Mr.  Crane,  who  was  nearly  as  slow  of  hearing  as 
he  was  of  understanding,  did  not  catch  the  remark.  "  Really,  quite 
a  touching  farewell,"  he  continued,  as  Alice,  ere  she  entered  the 
house,  shook  hands  most  cordially  with  her  young  cavalier ;  "  and 
the  gallant,  gay  Lothario  jumps  into  the  brougham  (which  coronet, 
high-stepping  horse,  and  all,  evidently  calls  him  master)  and  is  lost 
to  our  admiring  gaze." 

At  this  juncture  a  fat  and  rosy  butler  (who  looked  as  if  he  had 
been  brought  up  by  hand  upon  port  wine  and  had  remained  faithful 
to  it  ever  since)  flung  open  the  door,  and  announced  Mrs.  Cover- 
dale. 

Throwing  off,  for  once  in  her  life,  all  coldness  and  reserve,  Kate 
embraced  her  cousin  warmly,  and  holding  her  by  both  hands,  led  her 
to  the  sofa. 

"  My  dearest  child,"  she  exclaimed,  "  how  delightful  it  is  to  see 
you  once  again  !  " 

"  But  if  I  may  be  permitted,"  began  Mr.  Crane,  "  if  I  may  be 
allowed  to  inquire,  what  have  you  done  with— or  perhaps  I  should 
rather  say— what  has  become  of  our  good  friend,  Mr.  Coverdale  ?  " 

"  And  how  came  you  in  a  brougham  with  a  coronet  upon  it  ?  and 
who  was  that  handsome  and  distinguished-looking  yoimg  exquisite 
whom  you  had  inveigled  into  playing  courier— eh,  Mistress  Alice  ?  " 
inquired  Kate  archly.  "  I  expected  to  find  you  a  pattern  wife,  and 
to  have  your  example  held  up  for  my  imitation  twenty  times  a  day ; 
but  I  have  alarmed  myself  very  unnecessarily,  it  seems." 

"  Don't  tease,  dear,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  it  was  all  the  fault  of  that  silly 
husband  of  mine  :  he  got  out  at  one  of  the  stations,  and  seduced  by 
the  attractions  of  a  restive  horse,  contrived  to  be  out  of  the  way 
when  the  train  stai-ted,  and  so  I  was  forced  to  do  the  best  I  could  for 
myself." 

"Which  theory  you  reduced  to  practice  by  selecting  the  hand- 
somest young  man  you  could  find  as  a  '  cavalier  servente,'  "  returned 
Kate,  laughing.    "  But  who  is  your  friend  ?     I  hope  he  is  coming  to 
call  upon  you  !  " 
"  Oh,  yes,  he  means  to  call— to-morrow  I  think  he  said.    I'm  glad 


170  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

you  consider  him  handsome :  it's  always  satisfactory  to  have  one's 
taste  approved  of  by  one's  friends ;  and  I  honestly  confess  I  admire 
him  particularly." 

Ml*.  Crane's  countenance,  during  this  speech  of  Alice's,  was 
wonderful  to  behold  ;  the  intense  sui-prise  with  which  he  listened  to 
the  beginning  of  it  gi-adually  changing  to  the  deepest  disgust  as  she 
continued,  afforded  such  a  clear  index  to  his  thoughts  that  Horace 
D'Almayne  turned  away  to  hide  an  in-epressible  smile,  which  Kate 
perceiving,  observed  with  a  slight  shade  of  annoyance, — 

"  And  now,  having  mystified  us  thoi'oughly,  be  kind  enough  to  tell 
us  who  the  gentleman  really  is,  and  how  he  came  to  offer  you  his 
brougham  and  his  services." 

Thus  appealed  to,  Alice  was  obliged  to  confess  that,  in  point  of 
fact,  there  was  nothing  wrong  or  romantic  in  the  adventure  from 
beginning  to  end — that  Lord  Alfred  Com-tland  was  an  old  school- 
fellow of  her  husband's,  who  had  travelled  in  the  same  carriage  with 
them,  and  who  had  naturally  done  all  he  could  to  save  her  from 
being  inconvenienced  by  the  effects  of  Han-y's  stupidity,  on  which 
she  dwelt  rather  more  at  length  than  Kate  approved  of,  that  young 
lady  having  a  very  keen  perception  of  right  and  wi-ong,  although 
she  by  no  means  always  acted  up  to  the  light  thus  afforded  her. 

Some  few  hours  later  HaiTy  arrived,  very  anxious  about  his  wife, 
and  decidedly  crestfallen  and  penitent,  and  bore  all  the  quizzing 
which  fell  to  his  share  with  most  exemplary  patience  ;  although  any 
attempt  to  excite  his  jealousy  in  regard  to  Lord  Alfred  Coui-tland 
proved  a  dead  failure,  his  reply  being  that  "  He  was  always  a  very 
good  little  boy,  and  that  he  did  not  see  much  difference  in  him 
except  in  height." 

When  the  Coverdales  went  up  to  dress  for  dinner  the  following 
dialogue  ensued : — 

"  How  well  your  cousin  Kate  is  looking,"  observed  Hairy ;  "  the 
pomps  and  A-anities  of  this  wicked  world  appear  to  agi'ee  with  her ; 
now  she  has  grown  a  little  stouter,  she  really  is  a  splendid  woman." 

"  Yes.  she  appears  in  better  health,"  returned  A.lice  slowly, 
"  but—" 

"But  what?"  inquired  Harry.  "A  woman's  'but'  is  like  the 
postcript  to  her  letter;  it  unsays  all  she  has  said  before.  Come,  out 
with  this  '  arriere-pensee,'  as  that  puppy  D'Almayne  would  call  it. 
By  the  way,  he  seems  regularly  domesticated  here.  I  wonder  old 
Crane  likes  it;  I  should  not,  in  his  position,  I  know." 

"  I  wonder  Kate  likes  it,"  returned  Alice ;  "  however,  my  '  but ' 
had  nothing  to  do  with  the  fascinating  Horace.  I  was  going  to  say 
that  although  Kate  looked  well,  yet  she  had  a  listless,  weary 
expression  of  countenance,  which  gave  me  the  idea  that,  with  all  her 
riches  and  splendoiir,  she  was  far  from  happy." 

"  The  same  being  a  result  rather  to  be  expected  than  othei-wise, 
when  a  lovely  and  talented  young  female  sees  fit  to  espouse  an 
elderly  and  feeble-minded  old  scarecrow,"  rejoined  Han'y,  making 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  171 

frantic  dives  into  his  portmanteau,  and  fishinpr  up  patent  bootjacks, 
miraculous  I'azor-strops — everything  but  the  dress  neck-tie  he  was  in 
search  of. 

"  I  don't  believe  they  see  anything  of  Ai'thur,"  continued  Alice 
reflectively  ;  "  I  asked  Kate,  and  she  seemed  to  know  nothing  about 
him— such  friends  as  they  used  to  be  at  one  time— it's  very 
odd ! " 

"  I  don't  see  the  oddness  myself,"  retimied  Hany,  speaking 
through  his  dressing-room  door,  which  stood  ajar;  "  there  is  a  great 
difference  between  feeling  spooney  about  a  pretty  cousin,  when 
you're  living  in  the  house  with  her,  and  have  nothing  better  to  do, 
and  dangling  after  her  to  the  neglect  of  your  business,  when  she 
lives  at  one  end  of  London  and  you  at  the  other — when,  moreover, 
she's  married  to  a  dreadful  old  muff,  antiqiiated  enough  to  be  her 
father,  and  slow  enough  to  be  the  father  of  every  fool  in  the 
kingdom.  I  think  it's  easily  accounted  for  by  prose  means,  without 
adopting  the  poetical  hypothesis  of  a  romantic  attachment — two 
fond  young  hearts  blighted,  and  all  that  '  Keepsake '  style  of 
business  ;  besides,  Arthur's  a  great  deal  too  good  a  lawyer  to  fall  in 
love  ;  it's  only  idle  fellows  like  myself  who  commit  such  follies." 

"  You  must  go  and  call  on  Ai-thur  to-moiTOw,  and  you  will  soon 
perceive  by  his  manner  whether  he  is  averse  to  coming  here;  but 
mind  j'ou  are  very  caref  id  not  to  let  hini  see  that  you  suspect  any- 
thing ;  I  am  quite  sure  he  would  be  most  sensitive  on  such  a  point," 
observed  Alice,  in  a  tone  in  which  you  would  caution  a  schoolboy 
against  playing  with  gunpowder. 

"  Keep  your  advice  for  your  own  benefit,  most  sententious  Alice, 
seeing  that  you  are  the  suspecting  party,  and  that  such  an  idea 
would  never  have  occurred  to  my  unassisted  reason,"  was  Harry's 
rejoinder ;  and  the  dinner-bell  at  that  moment  ringing,  the  conver- 
sation ceased. 

The  next  day,  however,  Ai-thur  put  an  end  to  the  controversy  by 
making  his  appearance  in  Park  Lane  soon  after  luncheon.  Although 
no  one  alliided  to  the  circumstance,  it  was  the  first  time  he  had  set 
his  foot  in  Mr.  Crane's  house,  or  indeed  seen  Kate  since  her  man-iage. 
He  looked  pale  and  ovei'worked,  and  thei'e  was  a  restless  excitement 
in  his  manner,  which  Alice's  quick  eye  at  once  discovered.  Beyond 
this,  however,  there  was  nothing  which  tended  in  the  slightest  degi-ee 
to  confirm  her  in  her  suspicions.  He  apologized  quietly  and  naturally 
to  Kate  for  not  having  called  oftener,  adducing  business  as  a  good 
and  sufficient  reason  for  his  remissness  ;  then,  turning  to  Alice,  he 
informed  her  that  she  could  not  have  chosen  a  more  unfortunate 
time  for  her  visit  to  London,  at  least,  as  far  as  he  was  concerned,  as 
he  was  obliged  to  stai-t  the  next  morning  for  Naples,  being  sent  out 
by  the  Foreign  Office  on  an  affair  of  some  importance,  which,  if  he 
could  bring  the  matter  to  a  successful  issue,  might  tend  to  his 
ultimate  advancement.  Kate,  on  the  contrary,  appeared  nervous 
and  ill  at  ease,  and  probably  feeling  that  for  once  she  could  not  rely 


172  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

on  her  self-command,  took  an  early  opportunity  of  quitting  the  room, 
leaving  the  brother  and  sister  '  tete-a-tete.' 

"  Alice,  you  are  changed,"  exclaimed  Arthur,  as  the  door  closed  on 
her  whom  he  had  once  so  deeply  loved,  towards  whom  he  now  felt 
as  we  can  only  feel  towards  those  whom  we  have  admitted  into  the 
inmost  recesses  of  the  heart,  and  who  have  availed  themselves  of 
the  privilege  to  profane  and  make  desolate  the  sanctuary,  "  you  were 
a  girl,  you  have  become  a  woman ;  has  matrimony  produced  the 
alteration  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so,"  was  the  rejoinder.  "  You  know  one  can't 
remain  a  child  always  ;  the  realities  of  life  are  sure  to  find  one  out 
sooner  or  later,  and  I  was  a  mere  baby  in  the  ways  of  the  world  when 
I  married." 

There  was  a  spice  of  regret  in  the  tone  of  this  remark,  which  did 
not  escape  Ai'thur's  quick  ear  and  keen  intelligence,  and  he  hastened 
to  reply, — 

"  You  mean  more  than  you  say ;  why,  surely,  Alice,  with  such  a 
husband  you  must  be  perfectly  happy ;  it  is  impossible  that  it  can 
be  otherwise." 

As  he  spoke,  he  fixed  his  dark  eyes  questioningly  upon  her. 
Unable  fairly  to  meet  his  gaze,  Alice  tunied  away  her  head,  as  she 
replied,  with  an  effort  at  careless  gaiety, — 

"Don't  alarm  yourself,  most  romantic  of  barristers;  there  is  no 
Bluebeard's  closet  at  Coverdale,  nor  does  Hari-y  turn  into  a  skeleton, 
or  anything  else  but  his  bed,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night.  He  is  just 
the  thoroughly  good  fellow  (that  is  the  term  you  men  delight  in)  he 
always  was,  and  devoted  to —  " 

"  His  wife  !  "  interrupted  Arthur. 

"  Well,  I  was  going  to  say  dogs,  guns,  and  horses,"  returned  Alice ; 
"  and  I'm  afraid  I  must  adhere  to  my  text,  unless  you  prefer  fiction 
to  fact." 

She  spoke  jestingly ;  but  the  lines  which  care,  and  thought,  and 
intellectual  exertion  had  already  traced  on  Arthur's  brow  deepened, 
as,  after  a  pause,  he  mui'mured,  half  in  reply  to  Alice,  half  in 
soliloquy, — 

"  I  am  disappointed,  deeply  disappointed ;  it  ought  to  be  so 
different !  I — I  wish  I  were  not  going  abroad  to-moiTOw ;  and  yet  I 
could  not  be  a  frequent  visitor  in  this  house !  " 

The  last  words  were  inaudible,  though,  by  one  of  those  intuitions 
which  often  compensate  for  the  inefficiency  of  our  physical  powers, 
Alice  divined  his  train  of  reasoning,  and  with  subtle  generalship 
diverted  the  attack  by  carrying  the  war  into  the  enemy's  country,  as 
she  replied, — 

"Do  not  puzzle  your  brains  about  me  and  Han-y;  we  jog  on 
very  serenely  together,  now  we  have  found  out  each  other's 
peculiarities." 

"  But  you  never  had  any  peculiarities,  either  o  you,"  interrupted 
Arthur   positively ;    "  except  that  Harry  was    the  finest,  noblest, 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  173 

manliest  fellow  going,  and  you  were  a  good,  simple-hearted,  sweet- 
tempered  little  girl.    What  do  you  mean  by  peculiarities  ?  " 

"  Never  mind  us,"  continued  Alice,  not  heeding  his  inteiTuption ; 
"  I  want  to  know  something  about  you.  You  say  I  have  changed 
from  a  child  into  a  woman,  but  you  have  turned  from  a  young  man 
into  a  middle-aged  one  during  these  last  six  months ;  you  are  either 
ill  or  unhappy,  or  working  yourself  to  death— all  three,  perhaps." 

"  Oh,  you  are  fanciful,  and  not  used  to  the  pale  faces  of  us 
Londoners,"  returned  Ai-thur. 

"You  cannot  put  me  off  in  that  manner,"  continued  Alice 
pertinaciously  ;  "  people  do  not  look  ill  and  careworn  without  some 
cause  for  doing  so.  Hoav  is  it,  pray,  that  you  never  come  here  ?  so 
fond  as  you  used  to  be  of  Kate,  too  !  I  expected  to  find  you  regularly 
installed  as  '  I'enfant  de  famille.'  Do  you  know  I  begin  to  have  my 
suspicions — " 

"Hush!"  inten-upted  Arthur,  in  a  low,  stem  voice;  "whatever 
you  may  suspect,  never  refer  to  this  subject  again,  there  are  some 
sorrows  in  life  for  which  there  is  no  remedy  ;  these  must  be  endured 
and  stniggled  with  in  silence,  for  so  only  can  they  be  borne.  If  you 
would  not  give  me  pain,  forget  that  this  idea  ever  occmTed  to  you." 
As  he  spoke  his  pale  face  flushed,  and  his  lip  quivered  with  tlie 
emotion  he  strove,  but  was  unable  entirely  to  conceal. 

"  Forgive  me,  dear  Arthur !  "  exclaimed  Alice,  whilst  tears  of  ready 
sympathy  glistened  in  her  eyes  ;  "  I  spoke  carelessly— foolishly  :  in- 
deed, indeed,  I  did  not  mean  to  give  you  pain !  But  you  are  not 
angry  with  me  ?  " 

As  she  spoke  she  laid  her  hand  caressingly  on  his  shoulder,  and 
glanced  up  in  his  face  with  a  beseeching  look  which  would  have 
melted  the  most  flinty-hearted  stoic.  Arthur  drew  her  to  him,  and 
kissed  her  smooth  brow,  in  token  of  forgiveness,  ere  he  replied,— 

"  Before  we  quit  this  subject,  never  to  resume  it,  let  me  say  this 
much  to  you:  in  this  matter  I  have  nothing  to  reproach  myself 
with  ;  as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  see  what  was  right,  I  have  acted 
up  to  it.  This  is  my  only  comfort.  That  I  have  suffered  much,  I 
will  not  attempt  to  deny  ;  but  I  am  thankful  to  say  the  blow,  though 
severe,  has  not  paralyzed  me.  The  sunshine  of  my  life  may  be 
destroyed  for  years,  perhaps  for  ever,  but  my  vigour  and  energy  are 
left  me,  and  I  will  yet  make  myself  a  name  and  win  myself  a  posi- 
tion that  the  mere  possession  of  wealth  can  never  bestow.  Now, 
forget  that  this  conversation  ever  took  place." 

As  he  spoke  the  door  flew  open,  and  Han-y  and  Lord  Alfred 
Courtland,  having  encountered  each  other  at  the  club,  made  their 
appearance  arm  in  arm,  like  a  pair  of  well-grown  Siamese  twins,  and 
Alice  was  dispatched  all  in  a  huriT  to  put  on  her  "  things,"  to  be 
taken  to  a  private  view  of  the  annual  exhibition  of  the  Society  of 
Amalgamated  Amateurs  in  Water  Colours,  whom  Han-y  irreverently 
paraphrased  as  the  "  Amalgamated  Muffs,"  a  definition  the  truth  of 
which  a  closer  inspection  of  the  efforts  of  those  mild  and  amiable 


174  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

caricatm-ists  did  not  tend  to  disprove.  As  tliey  strolled  up  and 
down  the  rooms,  waiting  for  Kate  and  Mr.  Crane,  who  had  promised 
to  join  them.  Lord  Alfred,  on  whose  arm  Alice  was  leaning,  and 
who  had  been  rattling  on  with  great  volubility  and  in  the  highest 
possible  spirits,  suddenly  observed, — 

"  I  do  find  myself  such  a  complete  country  cousin  in  London,  that 
really  it's  quite  ridiculous !  I  meet  all  sorts  of  celebrities,  and  don't 
know  one  of  them  by  sight.  Now,  for  instance,  do  you  see  that  pair 
of  young  exquisites  lounging  elegantly  along,  like  a  couple  of  self- 
enamoured  sleep-walkers,  and  dressed  like  beatific  visions  of  dandies, 
rather  than  mere  sublunary  fops  ?  I'm  sure  I've  met  the  youngest 
of  them  somewhere — he  with  the  '  petites  moustaches  noires,'  which 
are  so  iiresistible  that  I  should  certainly  cultivate  a  paii'  myself,  if  I 
did  not  feel  morally  certain  that  my  prejudiced  progenitor  would  cut 
them  and  me  off  with  the  same  shilling." 

"  In  fact,  cut  off  his  beir  because  you  would  not  cut  off  yours," 
punned  Coverdale.  "  But  in  regard  to  your  beatific  swells,  I  fancy 
Alice  can  enlighten  you  as  to  the  patronymic  of  one  of  them,  if  she 
chooses ;  he  is  a  very  jiarticular  friend,  to  say  nothing  more,  of  hers. 
She  only  married  me  because  she  failed  in  captivating  him." 

Alice  rej>lied  to  Lord  Alfred's  expressive  look,  which  asked  as 
plainly  as  words  could  have  done,  "  Is  this  all  jest,  or  is  there  a  small 
foundation  of  fact  for  it  to  rest  upon  ?  " — "  If  that  had  been  my  only 
reason  for  accepting  my  romancing  husband,  I  should  have  remained 
Miss  Hazlehurst  still ;  however,  I  plead  guilty  to  knowing  Mr. 
D'Almayne,  as  he  happens  to  be  an  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Crane,  the 
gentleman  who  married  my  cousin  Kate,  and  in  whose  house  we  are 
now  staying." 

While  they  thus  chatted,  the  following  conversation  was  being 
carried  on  in  French  between  the  subject  of  their  remai'ks  and  his 
companion,  a  showily-dressed  man,  some  half-dozen  years  older  than 
Horace  D'Almayne,  with  handsome  featui-es,  but  a  worn  dissipated 
look,  which  involimtarily  prejudiced  one  against  him.  He  spoke 
with  a  thoroughly  foreign  accent,  and  the  animated  gestures  with 
which  he  sought  to  elucidate  his  meaning  also  tended  to  prove  he 
was  not  a  native  of  this  country. 

"  The  plan  has  been  worked  out,"  he  continued,  referring  to  some 
subject  with  which  D'Almayne  appeared  acquainted,  "  and  with  his 
name  as  director,  and  .£1000  ready  money  to  pay  clerks  and  establish 
the  concern  on  a  respectable  foundation,  the  affair  will  go  charm- 
ingly ;  John  Bull  shall  buy  our  shares  and  hand  us  his  money,  and 
in  six  months'  time,  with  that  and  " — here  he  sank  his  voice — "  the 
club  in  J Street,  we  may  set  fortune  at  defiance." 

"  Mind  you  are  careful  aboitt  keeping  our  connection  with  the  club 
secret,"  returned  D'Almayne,  almost  in  a  whisper ;  "  we  are  not  in 
Pai'is,  remember ;  and  the  slightest  suspicion  that  we  played  would 
be  fatal  to  your  hopes  of  inducing  men  of  capital  to  join  the  other 
affair." 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  175 

"  Do  not  fear,  *  men  clier ' ;  I  know  my  game,"  was  the  reply.  As  he 
spoke,  his  eye  fell  upon  the  Coverdale  party,  and  hastily  indicating 
Lord  Alfred  Courtland  to  his  companion,  he  continued,  "  Do  you  see 
that  stripling?  he  was  pointed  out  to  me  last  night  as  a  pigeon 
worth  plucking  and  easily  handled;  he  is  a  young  milor,  very  soft, 
and  what  you  call '  green.'  You  must  get  introduced,  and  bring  him 
to  '  the  club.'  " 

"  The  boy  is  not  of  age  yet,"  returned  D  Almayne,  "  and  English 
fathers  never  pay  gambling  debts ;  so  you  must  not  hope  for  large 
gains  from  him." 

"  He  can  sign  bills  and  post-obits,  I  presume,"  rejoined  his 
companion,  with  a  sneering  laugh ;  "  but  the  people  he  is  with  are 
regarding  you  as  if  they  were  of  your  acquaintance — is  it  so  P  " 

"  Decidedly,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  will  effect  the  introduction  you 
desire  at  once,  biit  as  soon  as  it  is  over  you  must  find  an  oppoi'tunity 
of  withdrawing ;  I  will  join  the  party,  feel  my  way  cautiously,  and 

you  shall  see  Milor  Courtland's  childish  face  in  J Street  before  a 

fortnight  has  passed.    '  Allons,  mon  cher.'  " 

Having  offered  two  fingers  to  Coverdale  and  three  to  his  wife, 
DAlmayne  glanced  towards  Lord  Alfred  with  a  supercilious  look, 
which  seemed  to  express,  "  I  perceive  you,  but  on  account  of  your 
extreme  youth  and  inexperience,  am  wholly  indifferent  to  the  fact  of 
your  existence ; "  at  least  so  his  lordship  interpreted  it,  and  was 
immediately  seized  with  an  eager  desire  to  know  the  man  who  could 
thus  afford  to  look  down  on  him. 

"  Introduce  me  to  your  friend,  will  you,  Coverdale  ?  "  he  said ;  "  I 
must  get  him  to  give  me  a  few  lessons  in  dress  and  deportment ;  he 
really  is  a  second  Brummell." 

"  He  really  is  a  conceited,  empty-headed  puppy,"  returned  Cover- 
dale,  sotto  voce,  "and  it's  little  good  you'll  leara  of  a  jackanapes 
like  that ;  but  I  suppose  if  I  didn't  introduce  you,  somebody  else 
would — so  come  along."  Then  placing  his  hand  upon  his  shoulder, 
and  urging  him  forward,  he  continued, 1  "  D'Almayne,  here's  my 
friend,  Lord  Alfred  Courtland,  wishes  to  be  introduced  to  you :  he 
thinks  it  is  his  duty  to  know  every  well-dressed  man  in  London,  and 
you're  so '  facile  princeps  '  in  that  line — so  transcendently  got  up — 
that  he's  dying  to  ask  your  tailor's  address  and  the  length  of  tick  he 
allows." 

"  You're  so  obliging  as  to  laugh  at  me,  Mr.  Coverdale,  because  I 
cannot  reconcile  myself  to  yom-  English  Schneiders,  and  still 
patronize  Blin  et  Fils,  in  that  paradise  of  tailors,  Paris  ;  but — ar — 
really  you  are  uncivilized  in  this  particular,  and  require  reform  in 
your  coats  more  than  in  your  constitution,  which,  glorious  as  you 
consider  it,  you  are  always  altering.  Does  not  Lord  Alfred  Court- 
land  agree  with  me  ? "  And  as  he  made  this  appeal,  Horace 
D'Almayne  simpered,  to  show  his  white  teeth,  stroked  his  moustache, 
and  awaited  a  reply. 

Ere  Lord  Alfred  had  found  words  to  imply  his  admiration  of 


176  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

Horace's  taste  without  paying  liim  an  actual  broad  and  unmistak- 
able compliment,  Harry  put  his  ideas  to  flight  by  exclaiming,— 

"  Listen  to  a  word  of  common  sense,  Alfred,  my  boy.  Men  make 
coats — if  you  can  properly  call  a  tailor  a  man — but  coats  can  never 
make  men.  You  may  dress  an  ass  up  in  the  grandest  lion  skin 
going,  but  you  can  make  nothing  of  him  but  an  ass,  neverthe- 
less. In  fact,  I  never  believe  a  man's  a  man  till  I've  seen  him  with 
his  coat  off  ;  then  if  he  can  use  liis  fists  as  a  man  should,  I  believe  in 
him." 

"  Aha!  I  comprehend ;  ce  monsieur  refers  to  your  English  science 
of  the  box.  Very  clever  science  is  the  box  ;  I  am  acquiring  him  of  a 
professeur,  who  keeps  a  restaurant,  what  you  call  a  public-house  in 
Smissfiel." 

As  D'Almayne's  companion  thus  spoke,  Horace  seized  the  oppor- 
tunity of  introducing  him,  which  he  did  as  follows, — 

"  Allow  me  to  make  you  acquainted  with  my  friend.  Monsieur 
Adolphe  GuiUemard,  a  gentleman  connected  with  the  financial 
interest  in  Paris  and  with  that  of  Europe  generally."  Then  in  a 
stage  whisper,  he  added,  "  He  was  educated  in  Rothschild's  house." 

So  Harry  bowed,  and  Lord  Alfred  bowed,  and  Alice  inclined  her 
head  in  rather  a  stately  manner,  because  she  did  not  approve  of 
Monsieur  Guillemard's  roving  eyes;  and  Monsieur  GuiUemard 
bowed  and  scraped,  and  laid  his  hand  on  his  waistcoat,  where  his 
heart  ought  to  have  been,  and  abased  his  unappreciated  optics,  and 
appeared  profoundly  touched  and  anxious  to  weep  on  the  bosom  of 
society  at  large ;  and  Mr.  Crane,  who  at  that  moment  came  up  in 
his  wife's  custody,  not  making  allowance  for  foreign  manners, 
thought  he  was  in  a  fit.  Then  Monsieur  GuiUemard  drew  out  his 
watch,  and  found  he  had  an  engagement  at  the  Bourse,  as  he  was 
pleased  to  call  the  Stock  Exchange;  and  so  took  leave  of  his 
new  acquaintance,  squeezed  both  the  yellow  kid  hands  of  his  cher 
Hoi'ace,  and  with  short,  jaunty  footsteps  as  of  a  male  ballet-dancer, 
quitted  the  spacious  gallery,  sacred  to  the  noble  efforts  of  the  Amal- 
gamated Amateurs.  And  when  he  had  depai-ted,  of  course  his 
friends  began  to  talk  him  over.  D'Almayne  drew  Mr.  Crane  aside 
and  related  to  him  wonderful  anecdotes  of  his  (GuiUemard's)  skill  in 
foreseeing  political  events  and  their  consequences,  and  the  splendid 
hits  he  had  thus  made  in  stockjobbing  for  himself,  and  others  who 
had  wisely  availed  themselves  of  his  talent,  and  what  Baron  Roths- 
child", had  said  and  thought  of  him,  until  Mr.  Crane  began  to  imagine 
him  an  incarnation  of  Mammon,  and  yearned  to  fall  down  and 
adore  him  on  the  spot.  For,  be  it  observed,  parenthetically,  that  Mr. 
Crane,  albeit  nominally  a  member  of  the  Established  Church,  was 
verily  and  indeed  a  worshipper  of  a  certain  golden  calf,  to  whose 
likeness  he  had  for  years  striven  earnestly,  and  not  unsuccessfully, 
to  assimilate  himself.  And  Harry  remarked  confidentially  to  Alice, 
Kate,  and  Lord  Alfred,  that  he  was  prepared  to  bet  a  pony  that 
GuiUemard  was  neither  more  nor  less  than  a  "  leg,"  and  that  whoever 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  177 

had  many  dealings  with  him  woidd  be  safe  to  put  his  or  her  foot  in 
it— which  sentence  sounded  like  nonsense,  but  was  only  slang.  And 
Lord  Alfred  laughed,  and  replied  that  Harry  said  so  because  he  was 
jealous  of  the  superior  cut  of  Monsieur  Guillemard's  garments. 
Alice  agreed  perfectly  with  her  husband,  which,  Kate  remarked,  was 
the  most  original  feature  of  the  whole  aif  air — an  observation  intended 
for  a  mild  and  playful  jest,  but  at  which  Alice  blushed  and  Harry 
suddenly  became  engi-ossed  by  a  spirited  sketch,  in  very  water  colours, 
of  Ophelia  as  she  appeared  when  drowning,  which,  according  to  the 
talented  representation  of  Miss  Appela  Brown,  M.S.A.A.,  was  remark- 
ably jolly  and  slightly  inebriated — next  to  which  hung  a  portrait  of 
Miss  Brown  herself,  seated  at  her  easel,  her  pre-Raphaelite  countenance 
beaming  with  mingled  talent  and  astonishment  on  the  picture  growing 
beneath  her  gifted  brush — a  compound  expression,  at  which,  as  the 
subject  was  some  demi-god  or  other  mythical  celebx'ity,  in  heroic 
muscular  proportions  strongly  developed,  and  nothing  else,  we  can 
scarcely  feel  surprise.  Then  the  whole  party  devoted  their  serious 
attention  to  the  performances  of  the  amalgamated  ones,  and  were  re- 
warded by  beholding  many  fearful  and  wonderful  things.  There  were 
"  young  gentlemen  taken  from  life  "  and  transported  by  amalgamated 
magic  into  the  regions  of  romance — an  unlikeness  of  Snook's  niddy 
face  being  affixed  to  Hamlet's  velvet  body,  or  Mary  Ann  Jones's  very 
retrousse  profile  heading  Joan  of  Arc's  steel  bodice,  and  a  select 
squadron  of  twelve  French  soldiers  in  gi-een  hunting-coats  and  fancy 
hats  and  feathers,  prepared  to  "  mourir  pour  la  patrie"  to  any 
extent  which  the  said  Mary  Ann  might  require  of  them.  Then  there 
were  landscapes  with  gamboge  foregrounds,  pasturing  comical  cows 
of  shapes  and  colours  iuikno\vn  to  zoology  ;  tind  middle  distances, 
gloomy  with  indigo  trees,  and  cast-iron  rivulets  purling  rigidly  over 
wild  rocks,  suggested  by  bald  places,  showing  the  naked  paper 
through  a  severe  application  of  sepia  and  neutral  tint.  Ferocious 
battles  were  there  also,  designed  by  gentle  girls,  who  had  never 
witnessed  so  much  as  a  street  row,  wherein  gallant  Henri  Quatre-like 
parties,  with  slim  waists,  feminine  complexions,  and  white  waving 
plumes,  slaughtered  strong  men  in  funny  dresses  and  pranced  over 
their  dead  bodies  with  the  most  heroic  magnanimity  and  indiffer- 
ence. Then  there  was  Mount  Vesuvius  during  an  eniption,  Avhich,  to 
ji;dge  by  the  colouring,  must  have  been  the  eruption  attendant  on 
scarlet  fever ;  and  Mont  Blanc  well  iced,  showing  the  "  mer  de  glace  " 
(the  most  difficult  mare  to  mount  on  record,  as  *'  we  know  who  " 
would  say),  and  the  last  batch  of  proselytes  from  the  Egyptian  Hall 
sliding  serenely  down  on  their  haunches,  as  wolves  are  repoi-ted  to 
do,  only  the  proselytes  appear  to  have  got  the  advantage  of  the  wolves 
by  reason  of  their  coat-tails.  Scripture  pieces,  too,'.had  some  of  these 
rash  amateurs  perpetrated, wherein  "  daughters  of  Babylon"  appeared 
like  the  ''  corps  de  ballet,"  and  kings,  prophets,  and  patriarchs  had 
evidently  found  their  prototypes  in  Mario,  Lablache,  and  Tamburini 
— a  fact  which  afforded  Horace  D'Almayne  an  opportunity  of  observ- 


HAR] 

Horace's  taste  \v\ 
able  complimen.| 

"  Listen  to  a 
coats — if  yon 
make  men. 
going,    but 
less.     In  fa(j 
his  coat  off  j 
him." 

"Aha! 
of  the 
professej 
Smissfif 

As 
tunitj 


anee    l'< 
jAbvlt  Giitl 
ament  a' 


aatit 

I  the 

t  non 

indeed 

had  f^, 

te  himr 

Lord  . 

•d  was  n' 


jicMi  it-ur 
lie   financial 
."     T-  Ma 

^hiM 

lice  inclined  her 

d  not  approve  of 

nsieiir    Guillemard 

■nistcoat,  where  his 

lilted  optics,  and 

som  of 

•  up  in 

-II    manners, 

;    irew  out  his 

'ursc,  as  he  was 

i"ok   leave  of    his 

ip  yellow  kid  hands  of  his  cher 

">  as  of  a  male  bullet-dancer, 

t  li.   noble  effoi-ts  of  the  Amal- 

le   had   departed,  of  course  his 

D'Almayne  drew  Mr.  Crane  aside 

!  lul  anecdotes  of  his  (Guillemard's)  skill  in 

s  and  their  consequences,  and  the  splendid 

i  stockjobbing  for  himself,  and  others  who 

'  03  of  his  talent,  and  what  Baron  Roths- 

'  )f  him,  until  Mr.  Crane  began  to  imagine 

nimon,  and    yearned   to   fall    down  and 

.  l)e  it  obsei-ved,  parenthetically,  that  Mr. 

a  member  of  the  Established  Church,  was 

.rshipper  of  a  certain  golden  calf,  to  whose 

ears  striven  earnestly,  and  not  imsnccessfuUy. 

And  Han-y  remarked  confidentially  to  Alice, 

;,  that  he  was  prepared  to  bet  a  pony  that 

more  nor  less  than  a  "  leg,"  and  that  whoever 


vT  C41tl. 

>lMa  ibai  H.. 
J  of  Hr— im  I, 

er  hut^iaad.  vlAet 

le  whole  aflair— A. 

it  at  which  kiy 

uiritedikaikci. 

■rownine.  ■• 


lumn^-coatH  and  fancy 

pouilu   patrie"   to  any 

lit  require  cthem.    Then  there 

foi'egroiinds.  paairiuK  comical  cowa 

^o^^^l  to  zooloj^y  ;  at  iniddle  diHtances, 

m,  and  cast-iron  vivu!-  •  ii,'  riffidly  over 

by  bidd    places,  shux'.    i  naked    paper 

iition  of  sepia  and  neuul  tint.     FerociouH 

desijfued    by  gentle   jtIk,  who  had  never 

Street  row,  whei-ein  gallab  Henri  Quatrc-like 

^vaists,  feminine  complexion  and  white  waving 

;d  strong  men  in  funny  dresw  and  pranced  over 

ies  with  the  most  heroic  mapiuuir''y  and   indiffer- 

lere  was  Mount  Vesuvius  during  n  iiiitiou.  which,  to 

colouring,  must  have  been  the  erjt     n  attendant  on 

and  Mont  Blanc  well  iced,  showinji:!:'-  '  nier  deglace  " 

lifficult  mai-e  to   mount    on  record,  cj  "  we  know  who  " 

and  the  last  batch  of  proselytes  fix>ithe  Egn^tian  Hall 

jnely  down  on  their  haunches,  aa  wives  are  reiKji-ted  to 

ke  proselytes  appear  to  have  got  the  adviti^'c  of  the  wolves 

of  their  coat-tails.    Scripture  pieces,  t«,.li;id  some  of  these 

jurs  perpetrated, wherein  "daughters  oBabylon"  appeared 

coips  de  ballet,"  and  kings,  prophets^nd  patriarchs  had 

found  their  prototypes  in  Mario,  Labhhe,  and  Tamburini 

rhich  afforded  Horace  D'AlmajTie  an  ojortunity  of  observ- 


«• 


'^Lii^tL^'' 


1  '  wr^ 


=! 


k, 


180  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

And  havinf?  spoken,  straightway  he  fell  into  a  fidfret ;  so  that,  in 
less  than  two  minutes,  the  noble  productions  of  the  Amalcjamated 
Amateurs  became  as  a  dream  of  the  past  to  oiir  dramatis 
person*. 

On  reaching  the  street,  with  his  wife  hanging  on  his  arm.  Mr. 
Crane,  ere  he  placed  her  in  the  carriage,  thus  addressed  his 
domestic, — 

'*  Why,  coachman,  you  never  told  me  one  of  the  horses  had  a 
cough." 

As  he  spoke,  Kate,  perfectly  understanding  that  the  horse's  cough 
was  ;in  invention  of  DAlmayne's  to  enable  them  to  get  away  from 
the  gallery  in  accordance  with  her  wishes,  involuntarily  glanced 
towards  him.  But  where  manceuvi-ing  and  finesse  wei'e  required, 
Horace  was  quite  in  his  element.  Catching  the  attention  of  the 
servant  (whom  he  had  himself  recommended)  by  a  fictitious  attack 
of  the  malady  under  which  the  quadruped  was  supposed  to  labour,  he, 
by  an  almost  imperceptible  contraction  of  the  eyelid,  telegraphed  his 
wishes,  ensuring  their  fulfilment  by  suggestively  tapping  the  silver 
head  of  his  cane  to  express  that  in  that  metal  should  his  compliance 
be  rewarded ;  so  Mr.  Crane  was  glibly  informed  that  his  horse  had 
suffered  under  a  bronchial  affection  for  about  the  space  of  four  days, 
more  or  less ;  but  that  he,  the  coachman,  having  applied  an  invalu- 
able specific,  kno^vn  only  to  himself,  had  not  considered  the  matter 
sufficiently  serious  to  trouble  his  master  withal ; — for  which  reticence 
he  bore  meekly  Mr.  Crane's  peevish  rebuke,  consoled  by  the  expec- 
tation of  five  shillings  the  next  morning  from  Horace  D'Almayne. 

The  polished  boots  of  that  good  young  man  trod  upon  roses  rather 
than  granite,  as  he  ambled  down  Pall  Mall ;  for,  by  means  of  those 
trifles  which  make  the  sum  of  human  things,  he  had  achieved  a 
great  and  almost  unhoped-for  success — he  had  succeeded  in  establish- 
ing a  private  understanding  with  the  young  and  beautiful  wife  of  the 
millionaire ! 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

A  GLIMPSE  AT   THE  GREEN-EYED   MONSTER. 

Having  consoled  himself  by  a  canter  in  Rotten  Row  for  the  minor 
martyrdom  he  had  undergone  in  his  pursuit  of  the  fine  arts,  as  mis- 
represented by  the  Amalgamated  Amateurs,  Harry  made  the  best  of 
his  way  to  Park  Lane.    As  he  entered,  a  note  was  handed  to  him  by 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  181 

the  pompous  butler,  who  took  the  opportunity  to  inform  him,  in  a 
voice  husky  with  the  bee's-wing,  from  which  his  throat  was  never 
entirely  free,  that  "  dinner  would  be  served  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour." 
— "  Then  I've  no  time  to  lose,"  was  the  reply,  and  without  looking  at 
the  note,  Han-y  dashed  upstairs,  three  steps  at  a  time.  On  reaching 
his  room,  however,  and  finding  that  Alice's  toilet  was  by  no  means 
in  an  alarming  state  of  forwardness,  he  recovered  his  composure,  and 
opened  the  note ;  it  i-an  as  follows  :— 

"On  my  arrival  here  two  hours  ago,  I  was  surprised  and  em- 
ban-assed  by  hearing  that  you  and  your  bride  are  staying  in  the 
house.  Had  I  been  aware  of  this  fact,  I  need  scarcely  tell  you  I 
would  have  delayed  making  my  appearance  until  your  visit  should 
have  ended.  But,  although  I  knew  you  had  married  a  connection 
of  Mrs.  Crane,  such  a  probability  never  occin-red  to  me.  However, 
it  was  not  likely  that,  mixing  in  the  same  gi-ade  of  society,  we  should 
pass  through  life  without  ever  again  encountering  each  other;  and 
I  am  still  weak  enough  to  dread  our  first  meeting  and  to  wish  it 
over.  I  know  your  generous  nature,  and  feel  the  utmost  confidence 
that  the  past  will  remain  a  secret  between  us.  It  will,  perhaps,  be 
better— easier  for  us  both,  not  to  pretend  to  uieet  as  strangers.  An 
accidental  travelling  acquaintance  will  sufficiently  account  for  our 
knowing  the  same  places,  people,  &c.  For  your  own  sake  as  well  as 
mine,  I  implore  you  to  be  careful— I  have  never  forgotten  your 
advice  and  have  striven  to  act  upon  it— but  mine  is  ?.  rebellious 
nature.    Destroy  this  note  as  soon  as  you  have  read  it. 

"  Arabella." 

With  stem  compressed  lips  and  knitted  brow  Harry  perused  this 
mysterious  epistle,  and  when  he  had  finished  it,  ci-ushed  it  in  his 
hand  and  threw  it  on  the  fire  with  a  gesture  of  impatience. 

"  Your  letter  does  not  seem  to  please  you,"  observed  Alice ;  "  does 
it  come  from  a  dun,  or  is  there  a  screw  loose  (don't  I  get  on  with  my 
slang !)  in  the  stable  or  the  kennel  ?  " 

Absorbed  in  thought,  Han-y  made  her  no  reply,  until,  sui-prised 
and  slightly  annoyed  at  his  silence,  she  resuuied,— 

"  Has  the  mysterious  epistle  stricken  you  dumb,  or  have  we  become 
so  thorouglily  matrimonial  that  you  don't  consider  it  worth  while 
to  answer  your  wife  when  she  asks  you  a  question  ?  " 

"  Eh  !  what  f*  I  beg  your  pardon,  dear,  the  letter  ?  no  it  was  not 
from  a  dun.  I  never  was  preyed  upon  by  those  vampires,  thank 
Heaven ;  '  out  of  debt  out  of  danger,'  has  always  been  my  motto," 
replied  Coverdale,  rousing  from  his  reverie. 

"If  it  was  not  from  a  dun,  whom  was  it  from  then ?"  continued 
Alice  pertinaciously. 

"You  are  singularly  curious  all  of  a  sudden,"  rejoined  HaiTy; 
"  all  I  shall  tell  you  about  the  matter  is  that  the  note  refen-ed  to 
a  disagi-eeable  affair  which  happened  three  or  four  years  ago,  and 
which  I  had  hoped  was  entirely  passed  and  forgotten."' 


182  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  And  having  raised  my  curiosity  thus,  do  you  actually  mean  to 
Bay  that  you  will  not  gratify  it  farther  ?  "  inquired  Alice. 

"  As  you  can  have  no  good  reason  for  asking,  and  as  I  have  a  very 
good  and  sufficient  one  for  keeping  my  own  counsel,  I  am  afi-aid  I 
must  leave  you  in  ignorance,"  was  HaiTy's  tantalizing  reply. 

Alice  glanced  at  his  face,  and  reading  there  that  he  was  in  earnest 
and  meant  to  act  on  what  he  had  said,  pouted  like  a  spoilt  child  who 
had  been  refused  some  coveted  plaything,  while  Coverdale  betook  him- 
self to  his  dressing-room  in  a  "  who-the-deuce-would-have-thouglit- 
of-her-tuming-up  !  "  frame  of  mind,  from  which  he  had  by  no  means 
recovered  when,  with  his  wife,  still  mildly  vindictive,  hanging  on  his 
arm,  he  descended  to  the  drawing-room. 

There  they  found  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crane  and  a  lady  whom  Kate 
introduced  as  her  old  and  particular  friend,  Miss  Crofton.  Having 
bowed  to  Alice,  Miss  Crofton  tui'ued  towards  Harry,  observing  to 
Kate,  as  she  did  so, — 

"  I  have  never  had  the  pleasm'e  of  meeting  Mrs.  Coverdale  before  ; 
but  Mr.  Coverdale  and  I  ai-e  old  acquaintances ;  when  I  was  travel- 
ling in  Italy  with  the  Muirs,  Mr.  Coverdale  was  also  indulging  his 
taste  for  the  fine  arts,  and  we  encountered  each  other  at  several 
points  of  the  route." 

As  she  spoke  she  held  out  her  hand  to  Coverdale,  who,  after  a 
moment's  hesitation,  and  with  a  slight  accession  of  colour,  just 
touched  and  immediately  relinquished  it,  saying,  in  a  cold  but  polite 
tone  of  voice, — 

"Do  you  know  whether  the  Muirs  are  in  England  now.  Miss 
Crofton  ?  " 

As  the  person  addressed  remarked  his  look  and  tone,  she  pressed 
her  lips  together  so  forcibly  that  every  trace  of  red  vanished  from 
them ;  but  repressing  all  other  signs  of  emotion,  she  i-eplied  to  his 
question.  Then  taking  a  seat  next  Alice,  she  began  cultivating  her 
good  graces  with  a  degree  of  tact  and  talent  which  evinced  her 
powers  of  shining  in  society,  and  deserved  more  success  than  it 
appeared  to  meet  with. 

Arabella  Crofton  was  a  handsome  woman  of  thirty,  looking 
younger  than  her  age.  She  was  taU,  and  her  figiu-e  was  fully 
developed  without  being  actually  embonpoint.  Her  hands  and  feet, 
although  proportioned  to  her  height,  were  beautifully  modelled,  and 
the  fonner  imusuaUy  white  and  soft.  In  feature  she  resembled 
Kate,  so  much  so  that  she  had  more  than  once  been  mistaken  for 
her  former  pupil's  elder  sister ;  but  the  expression  of  the  two  faces 
was  totally  dissimilar.  In  Kate  Crane  a  fiery  passionate  natm-e  was 
kept  under  control  by  an  equally  strong  degree  of  pride  and  an 
amount  of  self-respect  which  served  her  in  place  of  a  higher 
principle  ;  in  Arabella  Crofton  lay  concealed  even  a  gi'eater  depth  of 
passion,  but  its  sole  antagonist  was  an  intellect  keen,  strong,  and  acute, 
though  not  of  the  highest  order,  and  a  determination  of  will  and 
fixity  of  purpose  which,  while  it  led  her  straight  towai'ds  the  object 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  183 

she  sought,  rendered  her  somewhat  unscrupulous  as  to  the  means  by 
which  it  was  to  be  attained ;  and  as  the  mind  usually  writes  itself 
more  or  less  legibly  on  the  countenance,  so  did  the  expression  differ 
in  Kate  and  her  late  governess.  Still  Miss  Crofton's  was  a  face 
to  attract  and  rivet  attention,  a  face  which  exercised  a  species  of 
fascination  over  those  who  beheld  it,  so  peculiar  that  it  is  not  easy 
to  define  it.  As  you  gazed  upon  it,  you  felt  that  you  were  in  the 
presence  of  an  intelligence  of  no  common  order,  but  of  whose  nature, 
hopes,  fears,  wishes,  and  designs,  you  were  entirely  ignorant — nay, 
in  regard  to  which  you  could  not  decide  whether  the  good  or  evil 
principle  predominated.  In  this  sense  of  power  with  which  she 
impressed  others,  together  with  the  uncertainty  how  it  might  be 
directed,  lay  the  secret  of  much  of  Arabella  Crofton's  influence. 
Alice,  not  being  metaphysical,  did  not  attempt  to  define  the  sensa- 
tions with  which  her  new  acquaintance  inspired  her ;  had  she  done 
so,  it  might  have  appeared  that  she  had  formed  much  the  same 
estimate  of  her  manner  and  appearance  as  that  with  which  we  have 
furnished  the  reader.  But  if  Alice  did  not  moralize,  she  arrived  at 
strong  and  definite  conclusions  without  that  process,  for  before  she 
had  been  half  an  hour  in  Miss  Crofton's  company,  she  felt  morally 
convinced  that  she  should  hate  her,  and  tliat  it  would  turn  out  that 
the  ci-devant  governess  either  had  done,  or  was  about  to  do,  some- 
thing which  would  completely  account  for  and  justify  this  sudden 
animosity. 

During  dinner  a  note  arrived  from  Lord  Alfred  Courtland,  offer- 
ing Alice  and  Han-y  seats  in  his  opera-box,  which  offer,  after  a  few 
polite  speeches  to  and  from  Mr.  Crane,  in  his  (in  ?)  capacity  as 
master  of  the  house,  was  accepted.  As  they  di'ove  to  the  theatre, 
the  following  conversation  jjassed  between  the  husband  and  wife,  the 
lady  of  course  beginning  it. 

"  What  a  detestable  woman  that  Miss  Crofton  is !  I'm  sure  I  shall 
never  be  able  to  endure  her.  I  see  now  where  Kate's  faults  came 
fi'om.  Miss  Crofton  has  taught  her  to  be  worldly-minded,  and 
ambitious,  and  all  sorts  of  hon-id  things  which  she  never  used  to  be  ; 
and  the  creature  is  an  old  acquaintance  of  yours,  too !  Did  you 
know  her  well — intimately  ?  " 

"  Eh  ?  yes  !  I  saw  a  good  deal  of  her  at  one  time.  How  slow  this 
fellow  drives,  we  shall  lose  the  overture  !  "  was  Han-y's  reply,  which, 
if  he  intended  thereby  to  change  the  subject  of  the  conversation, 
proved  a  dead  failure,  for  A.lice  continued, — 

"  Oh  !  then  you  are  not  mere  acquaintances,  as  she  tried  to  make 
out !  I  thought  she  wasn't  speaking  the  truth.  Well,  and  did  you 
like  her  ? — I  dare  say  you  did,  for  I  feel  sui-e  she  was  in  love  with 
you ;  indeed,  I  think  she  is  still,  by  the  way  she  casts  down  those 
great  roUing  eyes  of  hers  whenever  you  say  a  word  to  her.  I  declare 
I  feel  quite  jealous." 

Coverdale  paused  for  a  moment,  ere  he  replied  :  "  My  dear  Alice, 
you  speak  thoughtlessly,  but  you  do  not  know  how  such  remarks 


184  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

annoy  me — faults  I  have,  and  more  serious  ones  than  until  lately  I 
was  at  all  aware  of;  but  to  suppose  that  since  I  fii'st  saw  you,  I  have 
ever  devoted  one  minute's  thought  to  any  other  woman  breathing, 
would  be  to  do  me  a  foul  injustice." 

Alice  perceived,  from  his  manner  of  speaking,  that  her  vague 
suspicions  had  really  pained  him,  and  having  no  other  ground  for 
them  but  an  instinct  which  she  confessed  to  herself  to  be  utterly 
unsanctioned  by  i-eason,  she  determined  to  confess  her  sin  and  obtain 
absolution.  This  is  in  many  cases  a  tedious  and  difficult  opei'ation, 
but  when  individuals  are  on  those  easy  and  agreeable  terms  which 
sometimes  last  so  long  as  a  year  after  man-iage,  the  process 
becomes  greatly  facilitated.  Thus,  by  a  little  gi-aceful  and  appro- 
priate pantomime,  Alice  caused  it  to  be  understood  that  she  felt 
deeply  penitent,  and  in  a  state  of  mental  self-accusation  only  to  be 
allayed  by  a  remedy  consisting  (as  some  light-minded  jester  has 
phrased  it),  like  a  sermon,  of  "  two  heads  and  an  application."  When 
this  specific  for  female  grief  had  been  duly  administered  by  Harry, 
peace  was  for  the  time  restored,  and  the  evening  passed  away  most 
harmoniously  in  every  sense  of  the  Avord. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


TELEMACHUS  AND   MENTOR. 


The  opera-house  was  very  full  and  pi'oportionably  hot  on  the 
evening  when  Coverdale  and  his  wife  visited  it  (it  being  the  d^but 
of  the  since  famous  Signora  Bettimartini).  Alice,  unused  to  London 
gaieties,  and  uneasy  from  the  suspicions  she  could  not  contrive  to 
banish,  acquired  a  headache,  which,  when  she  went  to  bed,  prevented 
her  from  falling  asleep.  Thus  being  anxious  to  court  without  loss 
of  time  nature's  sweet  restorer,  of  course  she  chose  the  most  vexatious 
and  exciting  topic  she  could  select  as  a  subject  of  thought,  and  began 
to  speculate  on  all  the  evidence  she  could  call  to  mind  in  regard  to 
her  husband's  relations,  past  and  present,  towards  Arabella  Crofton, 
who,  as  the  reader  must  have  perceived,  was  just  at  that  especial 
epoch  poor  little  Mrs.  Coverdale's  "  bete  noire."  The  first  circum- 
stance she  could  recollect  to  form  the  initial  link  in  her  chain  of 
evidence  was  Harry's  inquiry  about  her  when  Alice  casually  men- 
tioned her  name  during  the  halcyon  days  of  their  honeymoon.  In 
this  conversation,  Harry  had  confessed  to  a  previous  acquaintance 
with  Miss  Crofton,  and  when  pressed  farther,  added  that  he  knew  no 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  185 

g'ood  of  her,  or  words  to  that  effect.  His  manner,  Alice  remembered, 
was  so  peculiar  that  her  curiosity  had  been  at  once  excited,  or  as  she 
mentally  put  it,  that  "  naturally  she  felt  her  husband  ought  imme- 
diately to  have  told  her  everything  about  it — she  had  no  conceal- 
ments from  him,  she  was  sure."  Following  up  this  train  of  thought, 
another  instance  of  this  unkind  and  unflattering  want  of  confidence 
occurred  to  her — the  mysterioiis  epistle  which  he  had  received  that 
veiy  afternoon,  which  had  annoyed  him  so  much,  and  about  which 
he  had  refused  to  afford  her  any  explanation  ;  and  here  a  new  idea 
flashed  like  an  infernal  inspiration  across  her  brain — could  that  note 
be  in  any  way  connected  with  Miss  Crofton's  aiTival?  "  Yes!  it  must 
be  so."  She  remembered  when  they  entered  the  drawing-room,  and 
she  had  felt  surprise  at  finding  a  stranger  there,  Harry  seemed  to 
take  it  as  a  matter  of  course  :  good  reason  why,  he  knew  it  previously 
— this  hateful  woman,  this  detestable  creatui'e,  Arabella  Crofton, 
had  written  to  him  privately,  informing  him  of  her  an-ival !  Oh ! 
she  saw  it  all ;  and  how  she  would  try  to  wean  his  affections  away 
from  his  poor  wife — his  poor,  neglected,  betrayed  wife !  and  succeed 
most  likely — men  were  such  fickle,  wicked  things ;  and  then  it  would 
break  her  heart,  that  there  could  be  no  question  of ;  and  she  should 
die  in  the  course  of  a  year— in  six  months,  very  likely,  for  she  wasn't 
at  all  strong,  though  she  had  a  colour — consumptive  people  always 
had  brilliant  complexions — think  of  her  poor  aunt  Kitty ;  and  Han-y 
would  be  sorry  when  it  was  too  late,  perhaps.  And  so,  di'awing  a 
vivid  picture  of  her  repentant  husband  grieving  over  her  untimely 
decease,  she  cried  herself  to  sleep,  bedewing  with  her  tears  the 
*'  fickle,  wicked  thing,"  calmly  slumbering  at  her  side,  who  straight- 
way dreamed  that,  being  out  hunting  and  riding  a  young  thorovigh- 
bred,  he  had  chai-ged  a  brook,  and  that  his  horse  refusing  it,  had 
pitched  him  head  foremost  into  its  rapid  watei's. 

A  month  soon  elapsed — the  London  season  was  at  its  height. 
Evei-ybody  had  been  everywhere,  and  was  going  again ;  Grisi  and 
Mario  had  an-ived,  recovered  from  sea-sickness  and  British  catarrh, 
and  "  surpassed  themselves  "  in  their  favourite  characters.  A  mob 
of  costly  equipages  jostled  each  other  round  Hyde  Park  every  after- 
noon ;  can'iage-horses,  deprived  of  their  sleep  o'nights,  began  to  grieve 
coachmen's  hearts  by  revealing  the  position  of  their  ribs ;  young 
ladies  from  the  country  danced  away  their  roses  and  their  "  embon- 
point ";  men  whose  book  for  the  Derby  was  at  all  "  shy"  trembled  in 
their  patent  leather  boots ;  the  glory  of  the  lilacs  in  the  squares  had 
departed ;  water-carts  made  unpleasant  canals  of  the  principal 
thoroughfares  ;  the  Honourable  Mrs.  Windsor  Soape  had  presented 
her  youngest  daughter  at  the  last  drawing-room,  and  tried  without 
success  to  stuff  her  down  the  throats  of  several  eligible  eldest  sons  ; 
Lady  Close  Shaver  had  inveigled  a  hundred  and  seventy  unfortu- 
nates into  her  hot  drawing-rooms,  bored  them  with  Signor  Violini's 
scientific  rendering  of  Beethoven's  sonata  in  A  B  C  minor,  poisoned 
them  with  bad  ice  and  worse  champagne,  and  turned  them  out  to 


186  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

grass  upon  lobster  salads,  of  which  the  principal  feature  was  the 
xmaccoiintable  absence  of  lobster :  these,  and  many  other  miseries 
attendant  on  the  "  joys  of  our  dancing  days,"  had  been  gladly 
suffered  by  the  fanatical  votaries  of  the  Juggernaut  of  Fashion,  and 
still  the  Coverdales  lingei'ed  within  the  precincts  of  the  modem 
Babylon.  Lord  Alfred  Coui-tland,  having  received  a  summons  to 
join  his  family  at  Leghorn,  had  refused  to  obey  it  on  the  plea  of  ill 
health,  backed  by  a  physician's  opinion,  which  cost  one  guinea,  and 

was  worth !    Well,  really  in  this  case  it  was  worth  something, 

for  it  saved  Lord  Alfred  a  lecture,  and  he  disliked  being  lectured, 
even  for  his  good — silly  young  man !  so  he  stayed  in  town,  doing  as 
other  folks  did,  and  hoping  thereby  to  become  a  man  of  fashion ;  but 
as  he  only  acted  like  other  people,  and  did  nothing  very  clever,  or 
vei'y  foolish,  or  very  wrong,  he  by  no  means  succeeded  in  obtaining 
the  reputation  he  coveted.  With  this  consciousness  of  failure  befoi-e 
his  eyes,  he  one  night  lounged  dismally  out  of  his  stall  at  the  opera 
and  was  proceeding  with  dejected  steps  along  the  lobby  when  he 
suddenly  encountered  Horace  D'Almayne,  better  dressed  and  better 
pleased  with  himself  than  ever. 

"  Well  met,  my  lord ;  I  was  just  wishing  for  an  agreeable  com- 
panion,"' was  his  complimentary  salutation.  "  I  am  natiu'ally  a 
sociable  animal ;  if  you  have  no  better  employment,  will  you  take 
pity  on  me  for  an  hour  or  so  ?  " 

Deeply  impressed  with  such  unexpected  condescension,  and  over- 
come by  the  transcendent  cut  of  D'Almayne's  waistcoat,  nothing 
remained  for  Lord  Alfred  but  gratefully  to  consent,  which  he 
accordingly  did.  Linking  his  arm  in  that  of  his  companion, 
D'Almayne  continued, — 

"  You  are  looking  '  triste,  ennuy^  ' ;  has  Grisi  developed  a  cold,  or 
Cerito  a  corn  ?  is  it  opera  or  ballet  which  has  thus  bored  you  ?  " 

"Neither  one  nor  the  other,"  was  the  reply,  "  though  even  operas 
cease  to  excite  after  one  has  grown  accustomed  to  them." 

"Yes!  that  is  true;  except  to  an  educated  musician"  (and 
D'Almayne  looked  as  if  he  humbly  trusted  that  he  was  equal  to 
Mendelssohn,  at  the  very  least),  "  I  can  conceive  they  grow  tedious  ; 
but,"  he  continued,  "  you  should  seek  some  moi-e  exciting  amuse- 
ment :  mix  in  clever,  witty  society ;  do  things — see  things ;  in  fact, 
enjoy  life  as  a  young  man  with  such  advantages  of  person  and  of 
station  should  do." 

"  It  may  seem  easy  to  you,  who  have  achieved  a  reputation  in  the 
'  beau  monde,' and  can  command  any  society  you  please,  to  accom- 
plish this ;  but  it  is  the  reverse  of  easy  for  a  yoimg  man  in  these 
days,  even  if  he  have  a  handle  to  his  name,  to  persuade  people  that 
he  has  anything  in  him  ;  in  fact,  I  think  a  title  stands  rather  in  a 
young  fellow's  way  on  entering  London  life ;  people  have  somehow 
taken  to  connect  the  ideas  of  a  lord  and  a  fool,  until  I  believe  they 
begin  to  think  the  tei'ms  synonymous  ! " 

"  What  a  frightfully  democratic  opinion  for  one  of  your  order  to 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  187 

promulgate  !  "  returned  D'Almayne,  smiling  at  the  disconsolate  tone 
in  whicli  Lord  Alfred  spoke  ;  "  really,  you  ought  to  have  been  born 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Channel ;  but  I  think  I  perceive  your 
difficulty :  you  do  not  cai'e  to  be  admitted  into  society  merely  for 
your  rank,  but  wish  to  achieve  a  distinctive  social  reputation  for 
yourself;  is  it  not  so  ?  " 

"  Yes !  you  have  expressed  my  ideas  exactly,  a  great  deal  better 
than  I  could  have  done  myself,"  was  the  reply.  "  And  now  tell  me 
in  what  way  is  this  desirable  consummation  to  be  effected." 

"  Nothing  is  more  easy.  In  the  first  place  you  require  self-con- 
fidence ;  let  people  see  that  you  think  yourself  a  fine  fellow,  and  they 
will  begin  to  think  so  too.  In  the  next  place,  take  a  decided  line  of 
some  kind  and  adhere  to  it  steadily  ;  but,  in  order  to  be  able  to  do 
so,  be  careful,  ere  you  select  it,  that  it  is  in  accordance  with  your 
natural  dispositions  and  tastes." 

"  Good  general  maxims,"  returned  Lord  Alfred ;  "  and  now  to 
apply  them  to  the  pai-ticular  instance." 

D Almayne  paused  for  a  moment  ere  he  replied, — 

"  If  you  really  wish  me  to  constitute  myself  your  Mentoi-,  you  must 
allow  me  more  opportunities  of  enjoying  your  society  than  I  have 
hitherto  possessed,  and  then,  from  time  to  time,  I  dare  say  I  may  be 
able  to  give  you  a  few  hints  which  you  may  find  practically 
beneficial ;  and  as  there  is  nothing  like  making  use  of  the  present 
occasion,  what  say  you  to  allowing  me  to  introduce  you  to  a  kind  of 
private  club,  where  I  and  a  few  of  my  particular  set  sometimes  meet 
after  the  opera,  and  while  away  an  hour  or  two  with  a  hand  at  whist 
or  ^cai-t^,  or  exchange  our  ideas  on  the  topics  of  the  day  over  a  game 
of  billiards  ;  the  stakes  are,  of  course,  suited  to  the  measure  of  our 
pm-ses,  my  own  being  an  uncomfortably  shallow  one.  We  are  close 
to  the  entrance,  shall  we  turn  in  ?  " 

After  a  moment's  hesitation,  the  result  of  an  indefinite  notion  that 
he  was  about  to  do  something  wi'ong,  Lord  Alfred  consented ;  and 
D Almayne  knocked  at  the  door  of  what  looked  like  a  good  private 
house.  The  portal  unclosed  and  immediately  shut  again  by  some 
mysterious  agency,  for,  when  they  entered,  no  domestic  was  visible ; 
and  they  proceeded  along  a  passage  to  a  second  door  covered  with 
red  baize,  with  a  glass  eye,  lilaced  cyclop-like  in  the  middle  of  its 
forehead,  through  which  a  human  face  observed  them  for  a  moment, 
then  disappeared,  and  the  red  baize  door  opened  and  admitted  them 
of  its  own  accord,  as  the  outer  one  had  set  it  the  example.  Follow- 
ing his  companion  up  a  flight  of  stone  stairs,  at  the  top  of  which  yet 
another  baize  door  with  a  cyclopian  optic  presented  itself.  Lord 
Alfi'ed  Coiu-tland  heard  the  sounds  of  laughing  and  conversation, 
and  in  another  moment  found  himself  in  a  lai'ge,  well-lighted  apart- 
ment, round  which  were  dispersed  sundi'y  small  tables,  at  which 
wei'e  seated,  in  gi'oups  of  thi*ee  or  four,  from  a  dozen  to  fifteen  men, 
all  of  whom  were  recruiting  exhausted  nature  with  champagne,  pine- 
apple ice,  or  more  substantial  viands,  if  their  tastes  inclined  them 


188  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

thereunto.    Placing  himself  at  an  unoccupied  table,  D'Almayne  in- 
quired in  his  most  insinuating  tone,— 

"  Champagne,  claret,  johannisherg — what  is  your  pet  vanity,  my 
lord  ? — '  c'est  affreux,'  the  inefficient  ventilation  of  that  opera-house. 
I  am  positively  famished  with  thirst,  and  must  drown  my  enemy 
before  Horace  is  himself  again." 

"Having  obtained  the  privilege  of  considering  you  my  Mentor,  I 
cannot  do  better  than  avail  myself  of  yom-  valuable  taste  and 
experience  in  the  selection  of  a  beverage,"  returned  Lord  Alfred, 
falling  into  his  companion's  humour  with  that  dangerous  facility 
which  was  at  once  his  bane  and  his  greatest  charm.  So  champagne 
and  ice,  and  biscuits,  all  first-rate  of  their  kind,  were  brought  and 
discussed,  and  during  the  demolition  thereof,  one  or  two  intimates 
of  D'Aluuiyne,  faultless  in  mien  and  manners,  lounged  up,  and  were 
introduced  to  his  lordship,  and  drank  wine  dreamily,  and  talked 
smart  nothings  with  a  sleepy  wittiness  as  of  inspired  dormice;  and 
otherwise  exhibited  symptoms  of  that  life-weary,  all-to-pieces  con- 
dition which  very  young  men  believe  in  as  the  "  ne  plus  ultra  "  of 
modern  dandyism  ;  and  Lord  Alfred's  heart  leaped  within  him  as  he 
thought  that  now  he  had  at  last  reiJly  begun  "  life,"  and  was  in  a 
fair  way  to  become  a  nuin  about  town.  Such  wonderful  beings  are 
we,  "  a3tatis  "  nineteen  I 

When  a  man  is  thirsty  nothing  is  easier  than  to  drink  a  bottle  of 
champagne  without  knowing  it,  perhaps  even  till  the  next  moraing  ; 
I  never  heard  of  the  delusion  lasting  longer.  Whether  Lord  Alfred 
Courtland  drank  more  or  less  than  a  bottle  on  the  occasion  in  ques- 
tion, history  relateth  not,  but  certainly,  when  he  rose  and  strolled 
into  the  billiard-room,  he  felt  considerably  exhilarated,  and  eager  to 
achieve  something  "  fast,"  which  might  tend  to  impress  his  incipient 
"  about-townishness  "  on  the  minds  of  his  fashionable  acquaintances. 
Thus,  hearing  the  rattle  of  dice  in  a  further  apartment,  he,  to 
D' Almayne's  surprise  and  amusement,  declared  billiards  a  bore,  and 
whist  "  slow,"  and  "  voted  "  for  something  with  a  little  more  fun  in 
it.  So,  "  Dante  "-like,  entering  the  infernal  regions,  they  very  soon 
*'  knew  a  bank  whereon  "  much  "  wild  time  "  had  been  wasted,  and 
an  immense  crop  of  wild  oats  sown; — and  off  which  cei-tain  pro- 
prietors had  reaped  many  golden  sheaves,  while  the  sowers  them- 
selves had  gained  only  experience,  teaching  them  how  to  take  care 
of  their  money,  about  the  time  when  their  money  was  all  gone,  which 
must  have  been  more  improving  than  consolatory  to  the  "  cleaned 
out  ones."  Then  first  upon  Lord  Alfred's  youthfvd  ear  fell  the 
command,  diabolical  in  its  persuasive  eloquence,  "  Faites  le  jeu, 
messieurs!"  then  timidly,  and  with  feelings  akin  to  those  of 
mediaeval  youths  who,  in  the  good  old  feudal  times,  signed  imcom- 
fortable  compacts  with  the  Evil  One,  which  never  turned  out 
satisfactorily  for  them  even  in  this  world,  did  Lord  Alfred  stake  his 
first  guinea,  and  unfortunately  lose  it.  We  say  unfortunately,  for 
had    he  won,  and  so  come,  seen,  and  conquered,  he  might  have 


\ 


-yr^^^ 


'p. 


100  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

allowed  it  to  draw  its  own  cork  (for  thus,  under  his  skilful  control, 
did  the  operation  appear  to  be  performed),  and,  forcinpf  it  to  explode 
into  the  tumbler,  he  presented  the  beverapje,  foaminj?  wildly,  to  Lord 
Alfred,  who.  at  the  risk  of  immediate  suffocation,  drank  it  off  in  that 
rabid  condition,  and  providentially  survivinj?,  declared  himself 
greatly  benefited  by  the  treatment.  Havinp  thus  re-inviporated  his 
patient's  exhausted  frame,  DAlmayne  proceeded  to  pei-form  the 
same  friendly  office  by  his  mind,  and  very  {jood  counsel  did  he  bestow 
upon  him — only  that  his  advice  had  this  peculiarity,  viz.,  that  whilst 
in  words  he  recommended  Lord  Alfred  Courtland  to  bend  his  steps 
in  a  northerly  direction,  that  youn^r  nobleman  felt  an  unaccountable 
conviction  that  by  proceeding;  due  south,  he  should  raise  himself  in 
the  estimation  of  his  Mentor  and  of  all  other  men  of  s))irit.  Thus  he 
heard,  with  a  complacent  smile,  tliat  DAlmaynewas  surprised  at  the 
manner  in  which  he  had  carried  all  before  him  at  the  f^^aminj^-table 
on  the  previous  evening ;  that  every  one  imagined  him  to  be  an  old 
hand  at  such  matters ;  and  one  individual,  who  was  generally 
supposed  to  make  a  very  decent  living  by  gambling,  had  declared  his 
conviction  that  Lord  Alfred  played  on  a  system,  and  a  deiicedly 
clever  system  too ! — At  all  of  which  D Alma)Tie  appeared  alarmed 
and  imeasy,  and  assured  his  friend  that  it  was  a  very  dangerous 
talent  for  a  young  man,  and  that  it  would  be  a  gi'eat  relief  to  his 
mind  if  Lord  Alfred  would  promise  never  to  go  there  again;  to 
which  his  lordship  replied  by  lighting  a  cigar,  handing  the  box  to  his 
Mentor,  and  asking  him  whether  he  considered  him  such  an  irre- 
claimable muff  as  not  to  be  able  to  win  or  lose  a  matter  of  a  hundred 
poiinds  without  making  a  ninny  of  himself.  Declaring  himself 
innocent  of  any  such  disrespectful  innuendo,  D  Almayne  also  lighted 
a  cigar  (it  being  impossible  in  these  piping  times  to  do  anything 
withoiit  plenty  of  puffing),  and  these  new  allies  grew  loquacious  and 
confidential ;  but  with  this  difference,  that  Lord  Alfred  gave  his 
confidence,  and  Horace  obligingly  received  the  sacred  deposit.  Thus, 
after  a  fair  amount  of  the  hoiiicultural  ci-iielty,  yclept  "beating 
about  the  bush,"  had  been  committed,  that  good  young  man  was 
made  acquainted  with  the  '*  secret  sorrow,"  which,  as  the  reader  is 
aware,  was  with  much  success  performing  the  part  of  the  "  womi  i' 
the  bud "  to  Lord  Alfred's  "  damask  cheek."  As  soon  as  Mentor 
thoroughly  imderstood  the  state  of  the  case,  which  he  did  in  an 
incredibly  short  space  of  time — tact  being  so  strongly  developed  in 
him  that  it  almost  amounted  to  intuition — he  followed  the  advice 
of  Polly  in  the  "  Beggar's  Opera,"  by  "  pondering  well "  before  he 
ventured  to  prescribe  for  the  complaint  of  his  Telemachus.  Having 
sat  with  bent  brows  until  his  cigar  was  exhausted,  he  flimg  the  end 
into  the  grate,  smoothed  his  beloved  moustaches,  and  then  spoke 
oracularly : — 

*'  You  see,  mon  cher,"  he  began,  "  you  are  taking  to  the  rule  of  a 
'  flaneur,'  what  you  call  a  man  about  town,  full  early  for  an  English- 
man ;   thus,  the  chief  thing  you  want  is   self-confidence,   without 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  191 

which  a  man  can  neither  do  proper  justice  to  himself  nor  to  his 
position.  Now  it  seems  to  me  the  best  thing  for  you  would  be  to 
get  some  pretty  woman  of  good  station  to  take  you  in  hand ;  you 
must  try  and  establish  a  flirtation  with  somebody." 

"  Cui  bono?"  inquired  Telemachus;  "the  governor  would  never 
stand  me  maiTying  for — oh  !  not  for  the  next  five  years  !  " 

"  Marrying  before  you're  one-and-twenty  !  My  dear  fellow,  what 
can  have  put  such  a  frightful  idea  into  your  head ! "  exclaimed 
Mentor,  aghast  at  tlie  supposition.  "  No,  no ;  marriage  is  the  last 
thing  I  should  dream  of  recommending,  except  quite  as  a  '  dernier 
ressoi't.'  For  which  reason  I  was  about  to  add  that  the  best  practice 
to  sot  you  at  ease  with  yourself,  and  therefore  witli  other  peojjle,  will 
be  to  devote  your  attentions  to  some  pretty  and  fashionable  married 
woman  ; — there !  don't  look  so  awfully  scandalized ;  of  course  I  only 
mean  a  sentimental  and  platonic  affair — just  enough  to  excite  and 
interest  you  into  self-oblivion.  When  you  once  forget  your 
"  ipsissimus  ego " — when,  as  that  j)unning  friend  of  your.'^,  Mr. 
Coverdale,  would  say,  you  cease  to  mind  your  I — all  your  anxieties  in 
regard  to  popular  opinion  will  vanish,  and  you  will  soon  find  that 
with  your  face,  figure,  address,  and  position.  Lord  Alfred  Courtland 
will  become  the  admired  of  all  admirers.  And  that  reminds  me  that 
Mrs.  Coverdale  would  be  just  the  person  for  that  pui-pose;— she  is 
very  pretty,  moves  n  good  society,  and,  '  entre  nous,'  is  smitten  with 
you  already !  " 

"  But  really— of  course  I  don't  set  up  to  be  any  better  than  my 
neighbours,"  stammered  the  poor  boy,  colouring  at  the  possibility  of 
being  suspected  of  such  slow  attributes  as  good  feeling  and  right 
principle,  and  yet  unable  entirely  to  silence  the  promptings  of  his 
better  nature; — "of  course  I  don't  set  up  for  a  saint;  but  Harry 
Coverdale  is  an  old  friend  and  schoolfellow,  and  one  of  the  best 
creatures  in  the  world  ;  I  should  not  like — that  is,  I  really  couldn't — 
But,  I  beg  your  pardon,  I  don't  think  I  exactly  understand  your 
meaning." 

"  I  don't  think  you  do,"  returned  D'Almayne.  his  sarcastic  tone 
expressing  such  unmistakable  contemjit  that  Lord  Alfred  actually 
winced  as  if  in  pain  ;  "  I  don't  think  you  have  the  faintest  glimmer 
of  my  meaning.  You  don't  suppose  I  intend  you  to  order  a  chaise 
and  four  and  run  off  with  pretty  Mrs.  Coverdale  to  the  Continent, 
do  you  ?  My  ideas  are  much  less  alarming,  I  can  assure  you !  '  par 
exemple ' — your  friend  Harry  is  a  physical  force  man ;  he  is  a  mighty 
hunter,  a  dead  shot ;  he  loves  only  his  dogs  and  his  horses ;  but 
requires  a  Joe  Manton  to  ensure  him  good  sport  and  a  pretl  y  wife 
to  sit  at  the  head  of  his  table :  Mrs.  Coverdale,  on  the  other  hand, 
has  a  soul— reads  Tennyson,  feels  her  husband's  neglect,  and  pines 
for  some  one  who  will  appreciate  her  and  sympathize  with  her ;  you, 
in  the  kindness  of  your  heart,  pity  her,  and  knowing  you  can  afford 
her  the  consolations  of  congeniality,  obligingly  make  up  for  her  good 
man's   deficiency ;  therefore,  you  read  poetry  with  her,  explain  the 


192  HARRY  COVERDALES  COURTSHIP 

obscure  passat^cs  which  neither  she,  you,  nor  any  one  else  can  under- 
stand ;  her  mind  reposes  on  your  superior  intelligence ;  she  trusts 
yon  and  confides  to  you  impoi'tant  secrets, — the  exact  age  of  her 
dearest  female  friend,  whom  she  snspects  of  designs  upon  your  heart, 
the  dress  she  is  going  to  wear  at  the  next  fancy  ball, — and  eventually, 
with  heightened  colour  and  averted  eyes,  the  history  of  that  ring 
with  the  turquoise  forget-me-not,  together  with  a  biographical 
sketch  of  the  noble  giver — showing  how  he  lived  pathetically,  and 
died  in  the  odour  of  heroism,  fighting  at  the  head  of  his  regiment  in 
the  Punjaub,  the  centre  of  a  select  circle  of  slaughtered  foemen ; 
which  latter  confidence  may  be  considered  as  the  latch-key  to  the 
fair  lady's  heart,  ensuring  yon  admittance  at  all  times  and  seasons." 

"  And  having  attained  this  agreeable  position,  how  long  do  you 
expect  so  pleasant  a  state  of  things  to  last,  and  what  is  to  be  the  end 
of  it?  "  inquired  Telemachus. 

"  Oh !  until  she  has  got  rid  of  her  romance,  and  you  of  your 
diffidence,  by  which  time  you  will  have  gro^vn  mutually  tired  of  each 
other,  and  the  London  season  will  have  come  to  an  end,"  was 
Mentor's  oracular  reply.  Telemachus  mused,  lit  a  fresh  cigar,  and 
nursed  again.  He  liked  the  idea,  had  a  faint  suspicion  it  might  be 
\vi'ong,  but  was  quite  sure  it  would  be  very  pleasant.  Mentor, 
thinking  this  a  prouiising  frame  of  mind  in  which  to  leave  his  pupil, 
would  not  weaken  the  force  of  his  argument  by  vain  repetitions,  so 
made  an  engagement  to  meet  again  in  the  evening,  and  departed. 
And  while  "  les  petites  moustaches  noires  "  wounded  female  hearts 
as  he  passed  down  coui-tly  St.  James's  Street,  the  spirit  of  the  good 
young  man,  their  wearer,  glowed  within  him,  and. — 

"  As  he  walked  by  himself, 
He  talked  to  himself, 
And  thnu  to  himeelf  said  he  !  " 

"Ha!  ha!  Milord  Coiirtland,  you  are  mine- -your  purse,  your 
credit,  yoiir  influence — all  are  mine  !  But  what  a  child  it  is  ;  what  a 
baby !  '  Sacr6  ! '  at  his  age  I  was  winning  twenty  pounds  a  day  at 
billiards  in  New  Orleans  !— And  you,  Harry  Coverdale, '  mon  ami,' 
I  will  teach  you  to  watch  me  with  black  looks  when  I  am  conversing 
with  '  la  belle  millionaire ' ;  yoiT  had  better  attend  to  your  own  wife 
now — young,  pretty,  and  neglected !  '  Le  petit '  Alfred  has  a  fair 
game  before  him,  if  he  have  but  wit  to  play  it— yes  !  all  goes  as  it 
should !  fortune  fills  the  sails !  there  is  a  cool  head  and  a  steady 
hand  at  the  helm :  '  vogue  la  galere ! '  " 


AND   ALL  THAT  CABIE  OF  IT  m 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

CIRCE. 

In  this  "  ticrht  little  island,"' — of  which  as  a  whole  we  are  all  so  proud, 
althougrh  it  aiSords  amjile  occupation  for  its  public  in  grumbling  at 
its  institutions,  via  its  *'  Times  "  newspaper — the  only  season  of  the 
year  when  fogs  are  not,  and  every  day  does  not  resemble  a  "  washing- 
day  "  on  a  large  scale,  the  only  period  in  fact  when  the  country  is 
endurable,  is  the  early  summer.  Thus  the  educated  classes,  whose 
well-balanced  and  cai'efully-developed  minds  enable  them  to  arrive 
at  sound  conclusions,  and  whose  well-stored  pockets  render  them 
free  to  come  and  go  untrauimelled  by  pecuniai-y  considerations,  have 
bound  themselves  by  the  laws  of  the  tyrant  Fashion  to  spend  June 
and  July  in  London,  where  they  simmer  in  hot  rooms,  when  they 
should  be  in  bed  and  asleep,  until  all  the  goodness  is  boiled  out  of 
them — which  new  "  theory  of  evil  "  we  beg  to  offer  to  the  notice  of 
Miss  Martineau,  and  all  other  speculative  minds  anxious  to  elevate 
humanity  by  substituting  earthly  nonsense  for  heavenly  revelation. 
But  however  you  may  brick  her  up  and  smoke-dry  her,  nature  will 
assert  herself,  and,  turning  with  disgust  from  oats  at  40s.  the  quai-ter 
in  a  mahogany  manger,  pine  for  green  meat  and  a  canter  over  the 
spring  turf.  So  a  compromise  has  been  effected  between  town  and 
countiy  amusements,  and  horticultural  fetes  have  been  devised  to 
afford  parboiled  fashionables  breathing  time  between  their  rounds 
of  dissipation,  together  with  a  gentle  reminder  of  the  "  pleasures  of 
the  plains,"  which  they  are  sacrificing  to  their  craving  for  unnatural 
excitement.  Horticultm-al  fetes  are  brought  about  in  this  wise : 
Early  in  the  inclemency  of  a  British  spring,  when  all  London  is 
shivering  over  its  fondly  cherished  fire,  that  noun  of  multitude  per- 
ceives in  the  first  column  of  its  "  Times  "  a  notice  that  members  of 
the  Horticultural  Society  may  obtain  tickets  at  priWleged  prices 
until  some  specified  day;  thereupon  All-London  writes  to  its  par- 
ticular friend  the  M.  H.  S.  for  an  "order,"  and  the  member  vouching 
by  implication  for  All-London's  standing  and  respectability — into 
which  he  has  probably  gone  no  deeper  than  its  coat — All-London 
besieges  the  ofiice  of  that  floral  autocrat.  Dr.  Lindley,  and  clamours 
for  tickets,  crying  "  Give,  give,"  and  insatiable  as  the  daughter 
of  the  horse-leech.  Having  at  length  obtained  its  desire,  All-London 
buttons  up  its  great-coat  and  waits  timidly  but  eagerly  for  the  first 
Horticultural.  But  the  London  season  is  an  outrage  upon,  and  an 
insult  to  natm-e,  and  nature  takes  her  change  out  of  the  first  Horti- 

o 


194  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

cultural ;  it  is  a  poiu'ing  wet  day,  Chiswick  becomes  Keswick,  and 
the  Duke  of  Devonshire's  grounds,  yielding  to  hydraidic  pressure, 
cease  to  be  dry  grounds  any  longer.  Dr.  Lindley  ...  we  have  not 
the  pleasure  of  that  gentleman's  personal  acquaintance,  but  we  can 
imagine  Dr.  Lindley  feels  disappointed  and  .  .  .  expresses  it.  Then 
All-London  exchanges  its  great-coat  for  a  paletot,  and  looks  forward 
with  a  timid  anxiety  to  the  second  Horticultural,  which  being  in 
June  enjoys  the  advantage  of  April  weather,  and  is  only  showery,  so 
the  boldest  quarter  of  London  goes,  from  the  Herbert  Fitz-tip-tops, 
careless  of  the  bronchial  tubes  of  their  serving-men  and  carriage- 
horses,  down  to  the  Robinson  Joneses,  safe  in  the  immunity  of  a 
hack  brougham,  driver,  and  horse — a  long- suffering  trio,  so  ac- 
customed to  wait  in  the  rain,  that  use  has  become  a  second  nature  to 
these  amphibious  hirelings.  Om*  enterprising  pleasure-seekers  come 
back  ere  de^vy  eve,  and  say  that,  considering  the  fact  that  flowers 
won't  blow  out  of  doors  in  cold  weather,  and  that  the  gravel  was  a 
swamp,  and  the  turf  a  morass,  the  tents  very  hot,  and  the  east  wind 
very  cold,  and  that  there  was  nobody  there  except  a  few  dreadful 
people  who  really  ought  not  to  be  anywhere— (Mrs.  Robinson  Jones 
was  actually  pushed  up  against  Mr.  Cutlet  and  his  rib,  her  o^vn  butcher, 
who  makes  a  clear  .£2000  a-year,  while  genteel  Robinson  Jones 
scarcely  averages  ofiloOO  at  the  Bar ;  but  what  does  that  signify  h) — 
and  that  the  female  Quarter-of -London  had  got  the  ridiculous  soles 
of  its  little  French  shoes  wet  through  in  five  minutes,  and  had  felt 
a  tightness  at  its  chest  ever  since ;  allowing  for  these  and  several 
other  slight  drawbacks,  it  really  was  not  such  a  complete  failure  after 
all !  But  even  English  weather  has  its  bright  side ;  and,  content 
with  taking  the  shine  out  of  the  first  two,  on  the  third  Hoi-ticultural 
fete  the  sun  seems  resolved  to  come  out  strong,  and,  setting  parasols 
at  defiance,  imprint  his  burning  kisses  on  the  pale  features  of  all  the 
pretty  women  in' town,  like  an  ardent  old  luminai-y  as  he  is.  And 
All-London  finding  that  it  really  is  a  beautiful  day,  puts  on  its  best 
bib  and  tucker,  and  takes  its  wife  and  daughters  to  Chiswick. 
Where  the  roads  are  watered  they  are  very  muddy,  Avhere  they  are 
not  watered  they  are  dusty  ;  and  as  the  dust  sticks  to  the  carnages, 
and  the  dust  sticks  to  the  mud,  and  the  horses  get  first  very  hot 
going  there,  then  very  cold  waiting  there,  and  the  pole  of  every  other 
carriage  invariably  runs  through  the  back  panel  of  the  [vehicle 
immediately  preceding  it,  coachmen  are  not,  as  a  general  rule,  fond 
of  the  third  Horticultm-al ;  but  nothing  can  please  everybody,  and 
these  Flower-shows  "  please  the  ladies "'  (to  quote  Mr.  Crane's 
favourite  phrase),  and  that  is  the  great  point  after  all.  It  was 
probably  with  a  view  to  "  pleasing  the  ladies  "  that  Mr.  Crane  had 
thought  proper  to  invest  capital  in  half-a-dozen  Horticultural  tickets 
— seeing  that  his  own  horticultural  tastes  were  confined  to  drinking 
Sherry-cobbler  in  an  arbour,  whenever  such  a  privilege  was  vouchsafed 
to  him,  and  his  knowledge  limited  to  the  capability  of  discriminating 
between  a  cabbage  and  a  cauliflower.    The  weather  having  been  such 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  195 

as  we  have  described  it  during  the  first  and  second  fetes — on  both 
which  occasions  Mr.  Crane  bewailed  the  useless  expense  into  which 
his  gallantry  had  seduced  him,  with  a  truly  touching  degree  of  pathos 
— these  tickets  remained  unused  until  the  third  and  last  flower-show, 
when  "  the  face  of  all  nature  looking  gay,"  and  "  bright  Phoebus '' 
obligingly  condescending  to  "  adorn  the  hills,"  the  ex-cotton-spinner 
and  his  spouse,  Harry  Coverdale  and  Alice,  together  with  Arabella 
Crofton,  availed  themselves  of  five  of  them — Horace  D'Almayne 
quietly  pocketing  the  sixth  in  a  fit  of  mental  (and  physical)  abstrac- 
tion. They  were  to  stai-t  at  a  quai'ter  before  two,  as  Mr.  Crane 
always  prefen-ed  being  early  on  all  occasions ;  but  at  a  quarter  before 
two,  when  the  carriages  drew  up  to  the  door,  Alice  was  not  ready  ; 
and  moreover  it  was  Alice's  own  fault  that  she  was  not  ready  ;  and 
thus  it  fell  out.  Lord  Alfred  Courtland  played  the  flute  well  for  so 
young  a  man.  and  an  amateur ;  since  he  had  been  in  town,  a  talented 
professor  instructed  him  in  this  art,  who  was  an  exiled  patriot — that 
is  to  say,  he  and  several  other  ardent  young  men  had  attempted  one 
fine  morning  to  take  their  "  Fatherland "  away  from  the  gentle- 
man in  possession,  and  give  it  to  the  Secret  Blood-and-bones-united- 
brother-band — the  same  being  a  pet  name  by  which  they  saw  fit  to 
call  themselves.  What  they  would  have  done  with  their  fatherland, 
if  they  had  got  it,  neither  do  they  nor  does  any  one  else  appear  to 
have  the  least  idea ;  bi;t  this  difficulty  of  disposing  of  their  country 
was  fortunately  spared  them,  as  their  enterprise  consisted  simply  of 
a  stroll  along  the  principal  street  of  their  native  city,  in  company 
with  a  drum  and  a  little  red  flag,  bearing  the  cheerful  device  of  a 
skull  and  cross-bones,  with  the  motto,  "  Death  to  Tyrants !  "  which 
stroll  continued  until  they  accidentally  encountered  a  company  of 
soldiers,  who  conveyed  them — drum,  flag,  and  all — to  the  state  prison, 
where  they  were  detained,  until  it  being  discovered  that  they  were 
eating  their  heads  ofp,  the  authorities  exiled  them,  to  save  their  keep. 
Herr  Hildebrand  TootletootzakofEski,  one  of  this  devoted  band,  had 
brought  his  Polish  sorrows  and  his  German  flute  to  England,  and 
between  them  both  managed  to  make  a  much  more  comfortable 
income  than  tyranny  had  hitherto  allowed  him  to  enjoy  under  the 
mildewed  institutions  of  his  o^vn  blighted  country.  For  the  rest  he 
was  a  mild  little  man,  addicted  to  conversing  on  music  and  patriotism 
with  a  sort  of  washy  sentimentality  which  enabled  him  to  pass  as  an 
individual  of  refined  tastes  and  cultivated  mind  with  those  who  did 
not  look  beyond  the  surface  ;  personally  he  rejoiced  in  a  complexion 
as  of  bad  putty,  and  an  amount  of  hei'oic  Vjeard  and  moustaches 
which  would  have  stufEed  a  chair-cushion  very  comfortably.  And 
being  such  as  we  have  described  him,  Herr  Hildebrand— an  acquain- 
tance of  and  introduced  by  Horace  DAlmayne,  who,  in  his  multi- 
farious occupations,  may  have  been  a  banded-brother,  for  aught  we 
know  to  the  contrary — had  suggested  to  Lord  Alfred  Courtland  the 
great  advantage  it  would  be  to  him  in  his,  the  professor's  talented 
absence,  if  he,  Lord  Alfred,  coidd  find  any  amiable  pianiste  of  his 


196  HARRY  COVERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

acquaintance,  able  and  willing  to  play  duets  with  him,  to  "  impi-ove 
his  time  " ;  and  as  he  said  this  in  the  presence  of  and  immediately 
after  a  tete-a-tete  with  Horace  D'Almayne,  it  really  was  scarcely 
necessai-y  for  that  judicious  Mentor  to  suggest  to  his  lordship  pretty 
little  Mrs.  Coverdale,  although  to  guard  against  mistakes  he  did  so. 
Thus  Alfred  Courtland  and  Alice  had  played  a  good  many  duets  in 
Park  Lane ;  and  on  the  morning  in  question,  luncheon  being 
announced  in  the  middle  of  one  of  these  interesting  performances 
half  an  hour  sooner  than  usual,  to  guard  against  the  possibility  of 
anybody's  being  too  late,  Alice,  feeling  by  this  time  quite  at  home 
in  her  coiisin's  house,  coolly  told  Lord  Alfred  to  come  down  and 
partake  of  the  mid-day  meal,  as  she  was  resolved  to  finish  the  duet 
after  it  was  over,  before  she  went  to  dress,  and  if  they  made  haste 
she  was  sure  there  was  plenty  of  time.  But  time  unfortunately  is 
one  of  those  stubborn  facts  with  which  it  is  impossible  to  take  a 
liberty  without  suffering  for  one's  rashness ;  and,  although  the  latter 
part  of  the  duet  was  rattled  through  with  a  Costa-like  rapidity,  which 
elicited  from  his  breathless  lordship  an  acknowledgment  that  "  it  is 
the  pace  that  kills,"  yet  when  all  the  rest  of  the  party  were  assembled 
Alice  was  only  half  dressed.  Then,  as  was  his  wont  on  such  occasions, 
Mr.  Ci-ane  fell  into  a  fi*etful  fuss,  and  trotted  up  and  do\vn  the  room, 
and  made  everybody  fidgety  and  unoomfoi*table,  especially  Harry, 
who  was  provoked  with  Mr.  Crane  for  being  annoyed  with  Alice,  and 
with  Alice  for  having  given  him  cause  for  annoyance. 

"  There  is  a  quiet  way  of  arranging  the  matter,  my  dear  sir,"  he 
said ;  "  let  those  who  are  ready  start  in  the  bai'ouche,  and  I  will  wait 
and  di'ive  Alice  in  the  mail-phaeton." 

"  Yes,  and  then  we  shall  never  meet  at  the  gardens,  and  never  all 
come  away  at  the  same  time,  and  my  aiTangements  will  be  completely 
subverted,  and  everything  will  go  wi-ong,"  whined  Mr.  Crane.  On 
this  Harry  ran  up  to  hasten  Alice,  and  Alice,  who  was  attiring  her- 
self at  express  speed,  was  cross,  and  snubbed  him  out  of  the  room, 
and  he  rejoined  the  company  in  the  di'awing-room  with  compressed 
lips  and  an  angry  flush  on  each  cheek ;  and  Arabella  Crof  ton  f  avoui'ed 
him  with  a  glance  of  intelligent  pity,  which,  if  it  were  intended  to 
soothe  his  wounded  spirit,  failed  in  its  effect  most  signally.  After 
the  lapse  of  an  a%vful  ten  minutes,  by  the  expiration  of  which  period 
Mr.  Crane  was  on  the  verge  of  tears,  the  culprit  Alice  made  her 
appearance,  looking  very  pretty,  but  not  altogether  as  penitent  as 
might  have  been  desired ;  but  as  she  said  in  a  cheerful  tone  that  she 
"really  was  quite  distressed  at  having  kept  them  all  waiting,"  we 
will  hope  she  felt  more  than  she  allowed  to  appear.  Then  arose  a 
debate  and  confusion  of  tongues  and  opinions  as  to  how  the  party 
was  to  di\'ide.  Hari-y  offered  to  drive  the  phaeton,  Mr.  Crane  having 
privately  hinted  that  such  an  an-angement  would  meet  with  his 
approval — who  was  to  accompany  him?  HaiTy  suggested  his  o^vn 
wife,  meaning  to  treat  her  to  a  gentle  reproof  on  the  road  for  her 
■want  of  consideration  in  having  kept  a  whole  party  waiting  merely  to 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  197 

finish  a  silly  duet  with  that  boy  Alfred  Coui'tland.  But  Kate  dis- 
approved of  this  arrangement — pei'haps  because  she  had  begun  to 
suspect  that  the  Coverdale  couple  did  not  always  in  "  their  little  nest 
agree,"  and  had  read  in  Han-y's  flashing  eyes  warning  of  a  pertiu-bed 
spirit.  Whether  Alice's  conscience  led  her  to  the  same  result  we  do 
not  pretend  to  decide,  but  for  some  reason  she  seconded  her  cousin 
until  she  discovered  that  by  doing  so  Arabella  Crofton  would  be  her 
substitute,  by  which  time  the  affair  was  settled  beyond  her  power  of 
altering.  Her  annoyance  would  have  been  sensibly  diminished, 
however,  if  she  could  have  known  that  the  arrangement  was,  if 
possible,  more  distasteful  to  her  husband  than  to  herself,  but  un- 
foi-tunately  there  was  no  clairvoyant  at  hand  to  afford  her  this 
desirable  intelligence.  Having  handed  up  his  companion,  and  done 
all  that  his  chivalrous  nature  taught  him  was  due  from  a  gentleman 
to  any  woman  entmsted  to  his  care,  and  nothing  farther,  Han-y 
gathered  up  his  reins,  placed  himself  by  Miss  Crofton's  side  in  the 
phaeton,  and  sitting  bolt  upright,  drove  off  with  an  unapproachable 
expression  of  face,  which  indicated,  as  plainly  as  words  could  have 
done,  his  resolve  not  to  advance  beyond  monosyllables  until  they 
reached  Chiswick.  But  Hai-ry  was  in  such  matters  no  match  for  the 
astute  woman  of  the  world  who  sat  beside  him.  Apparently  falling 
in  with  his  humour  she  leaned  back  in  the  can-iage,  and  the  only 
sign  she  gave  of  her  presence  was  an  occasional  sigh,  which  escaped 
her,  as  it  appeared,  involuntarily.  Before  they  had  proceeded  far, 
however,  they  encountered  the  i)eripatetic  theatre  of  that  inconvenient 
humorist,  dear  old  Punch,  with  his  private  band  pop-going-the- 
weasel  hke  an  harmonious  steam-engine;  whereat  the  horses  (the 
identical  pair  which  had  nan  away  with  Han-y  and  Alice  in  the  early 
springtime  of  their  courtship,  and  which  Mr.  Crane  still  retained, 
although  he  carefully  avoided  driving  them  himself) — preferring 
probably  a  more  classical  style  of  music — began  to  express  their 
disapprobation  by  plunging  violently,  nearly  dashing  the  phaeton 
against  a  coal  waggon,  a  catastrophe  which  nothing  but  the  most 
consummate  skill  on  the  part  of  their  driver  could  have  averted.  As 
Coverdale  succeeded  in  reducing  the  rebellious  steeds  to  order,  he 
could  not  help  involuntarily  glancing  at  his  companion  to  ascertain 
how  the  incident  had  affected  her.  She  was  leaning  forward,  her 
attitude  and  the  expression  of  her  features  indicated  excitement  and 
interest  rather  than  tenor,  while  her  fine  eyes,  dilated  and  sparkling 
with  a  more  than  ordinary  lustre,  were  fixed  upon  his  countenance 
with  looks  of  unmistakable  admiration.  Courage,  or  as  he  would 
have  tenned  it,  ''  pluck,"  especially  in  a  woman,  where  he  considered 
it  as  an  "additional  attraction,"  while  in  a  man  it  was  simply  a  "  sine 
qua  non,"  always  delighted  Han-y  Coverdale  ;  and,  being  as  innocent 
and  natural  as  a  child,  he  could  no  more  help  expressing  his  senti- 
ments, than  he  could  exist  without  inhaling  vital  air. 

"  Well,  I  never  did  see  such  nerve  in  a  woman !  "  he  exclaimed ; 
"  why  you  look  pleased  rather  than  frightened  !  not  that  there  was 


198  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

any  danger,  except  of  damaging  Mr.  Crane's  near  hind  wheel.  They 
don't  bit  these  horses  properly,  and  that  white-nosed  animal  hasn't 
the  tenderest  mouth  at  the  best  of  times."  And  as  he  spoke  he 
administered  a  smartish  cut  across  the  ears  as  a  practical  comment 
on  the  delinquent's  oral  insensibility. 

"  You  are  such  a  good  whip,"  was  the  reply,  "  and  it  always  interests 
me  to  see  brute  force  controlled  by  skill,  energy,  and  strength  of  will. 
You  guide  these  fiery  horses  with  such  a  calm  sense  of  power,  that  T 
could  never  feel  afraid  when  you  were  driving  me." 

Miss  Crofton  was  decidedly  a  clever  woman ;  if  there  was  one  thing 
on  which  in  his  secret  soul  Harry  prided  himself,  it  was  on  his 
driving ;  and  this  practical  compliment,  standing  as  it  unfortunately 
did,  in  somewhat  marked  contrast  to  his  wife's  feminine  dislike  of 
certain  contentions  with  "  queer  tempered  "  horses,  which  had  at  odd 
times  come  in  for  a  specimen  of  Coverdale's  "  quiet  manner,"  appealed 
to  his  weak  point — he  was  mortal,  and  it  touched  him,  and  at  the 
touch  his  taciturnity  vanished,  and  straightway  he  began  to  confide 
to  his  dangerous  comi^anion  all  his  most  secret  thoughts  and  feelings 

in  regard  to bitting  hard-mouthed  horses.    It  seemed  an  unlikely 

topic  for  Arabella  to  make  much  of,  and  yet  she  allowed  him  to  I'un 
on,  listening  with  a  smile  of  pleased  attention ;  for  though  his  talk 
was  solely  equestrian,  yet  it  served  as  well  as  any  other  subject  to  melt 
away  the  icy  ban-ier  behind  which  Harry  had  hitherto  entrenched 
himself,  and  thus  effectually  defended  himself  against  all  attempts 
at  a  renewal  of  the  former  intimacy  which  appeared  to  have  existed 
between  them.  Having  explained  couii)letely  to  his  own  satisfaction 
the  advantage  which  in  the  instance  under  consideration  would  be 
gained  by  dri\'ing  "  brown  muzzle  "  up  at  the  "  cheek,"  and  the  white- 
nosed  horse  in  the  "  lower-bar,"  together  with  copious  notes,  descrip- 
tive and  explanatory,  and  voluminous  annotations  and  reflections  on 
this  momentous  question,  Harry  metaphorically  resumed  his  seat 
amid  continued  cheering,  and  Arabella  Crofton  rose  in  reply.  Of 
course  she  started  on  horses,  to  which  she  soon  attached  carnages, 
by  means  of  which  she  in  an  incredibly  short  time  contrived  to  ride 
back  to  Italy,  and  finding  Harry  stood  it  better  than  she  expected, 
she  continued  in  a  voice  indicative  of  deep  but  repressed  feeling, — 

"  Ah !  that  was  a  strange,  strange  summer  we  passed  there !  And 
yet,  now  I  can  calmly  look  back  upon  it,  there  were  many  happy 
hours,  bright,  sunny  little  bits,  to  set  against  the  deep  shadows  of 
such  a  life  as  mine,  times  when  I  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  your  fi-iend- 
ship,  before  " — and  here  her  voice  faltered — "  before  I  forfeited  that 
and  everything,  even  my  self-respect,  by  my  o-mi  mad  folly  !  " 

She  paused  in  emotion,  and  her  companion  replied  in  a  kind,  frank 
manner, — 

"  Why  distress  yourself  by  reviving  a  disagreeable  reminiscence  ?  " 
(as  he  used  the  word  a  slight  shudder  seemed  to  convulse  her,  and  a 
look  of  pain,  but  not  the  pain  of  contrition,  flitted  across  her  hand* 
some  features) — "  an  affair  which  I  have,  as  I  promised  you,  practi- 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  199 

cally  forgotten,  whicli  I  should  never  again  have  entered  upon  with 
you,  and  in  regard  to  which  my  lips  are  sealed  to  every  other  living 
creature." 

"  You  are  kind  and  generous-hearted,  as  you  ever  were,"  was  the 
rejoinder,  "  but  I  cannot  forget  so  readily  " — here  she  paused,  sighed 
deeply,  then  continued — "  I  am  so  glad  to  have  had  this — this 
conversation  with  you ;  your  manner  has  been  so  cold  and  stem,  I 
was  afraid  you  had  repented  of  your  promise  that  if  we  ever  met 
again  it  should  be  as  fi-iends." 

"  Well,  you  see,"  returned  Harry,  in  an  embarrassed  tone,  "  you  see 
circumstances  have  changed  with  me  since  the  time  to  which  you 
refer ;  and  I  thought — in  fact,  you  yourself  said  in  that  note  it  would 
be  better — I  assiu-e  you  I  meant  nothing  unkind,  why  should  I  ?  as 

long  as  you "  and  here,  having  been  on  the  point  of  "  putting  his 

foot  in  it,"  as  he  mentally  paraphrased  his  colloquial  "  etourderie," 
Harry  paused  in  confusion,  actually  blushing  in  his  generous  fear  of 
wounding  his  companion's  feelings.  Having  relieved  his  emban'ass- 
ment  by  giving  that  unfortunate  scajDCgoat,  the  white-nosed  horse, 
one  more  for  himself,  he  resumed—"  And  now  let  me  ask  you  whether 
you  approve  of  the  wife  I  have  chosen  't  " 

Hairy  made  this  inquiry,  not  because  he  felt  particularly  anxious 
to  learn  Arabella's  opinion  of  Alice,  but  because  he  wanted  to  say 
something.'and  this  was  the  first  ideawliich  occurred  to  him,  thus  the 
moment  he  had  spoken  he  wished  the  speech  unsaid.  Miss  Crofton 
hesitated  for  a  moment  ere  she  replied,  in  a  slightly  constmined  tone 
of  voice, — 

"  Yom"  choice  does  your  taste  credit;  for,  in  her  style,  Mrs.  Covei'- 
dale  is  singularly  pretty,  and  I  can  imagine  her  very  attractive — 
when  she  pleases." 

"You  speak  as  if  she  had  not  pleased,  in  your  case,"  rejoined 
Harry,  smiling  at  the  unmistakable  emphasis  with  which  the  con- 
cluding words  had  been  spoken.  Miss  Crofton  smiled  also;  then 
with  a  melancholy  expression  she  replied, — 

"  In  my  anomalous  position  in  life,  I  am  too  well  accustomed  to 
slights  to  feel  a  moment's  annoyance  at  such  trifles." 

■'  But  it  annoys  me  though,"  returned  Coverdale,  fii'ing  up  with  the 
indignation  all  generous  natures  feel  at  the  idea  of  indignity  being 
offered  to  any  one  in  a  dependent  situation.  "  I  am  surprised  at  such 
want  of  right  feeling,  or  even  common  courtesy,  in  Alice !  She 
cannot  be  aware  of  the  impression  her  manner  has  made  on  you.  I 
shall  speak  to  her  about  it," 

'*  Do  not  think  of  such  a  thing ! "  exclaimed  Arabella  hastily  ;  "  it 
was  folly  in  me  to  mention  it ;  " — she  fixed  her  eyes  on  his  face,  and 
reading  there  that  his  resolution  was  unchanged,  she  laid  her  hand 
gently  on  his  arm,  and  continued.  "  Listen,  and  I  will  tell  you  the 
whole  truth :  womanly  instinct,  I  suppose,  made  your  wife  dislike  me 
from  the  first  moment  she  was  introduced  to  me.  I  have  tried  in  vain 
to  conquer  her  dislike,  and  we  now,  by  a  sort  of  tacit  consent,  avoid 


200  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

each  other ;  were  yon  to  interfere  in  my  behalf,  it  would  be  of  no 
avail ;  on  the  contrary,  it  woiild  inci'ease  the  evil,  and,  pardon  my 
saying',  mip-ht  lead  to  a  disagreement  between  you ;  for,  I  may  be 
mistaken,  but  I  have  fancied  Mrs.  Coverdale  appears  a  little  im- 
patient of  control  sometimes — I  hope  I  am  mistaken." 

She  waited  for  a  reply ;  but  Han-y,  not  beiug  able  to  deny  the 
charge,  and  not  choosing  to  assent  to  it,  remained  silent,  and  she, 
rightly  inteiTsreting  his  reserve,  continued, — 

"  In  that  case,  I  implore  you,  do  not  dream  of  advocating  my  caiise. 
Were  I  to  be  the  occasion  of  any  difference  between  you,  it  would 
render  me  most  unhappy." 

After  a  moment's  silence  she  added, — 

"  I  was  so  much  interested  when  I  heard  you  were  going  to  be 
man-ied,  and  hoped,  nay  prayed,  that  you  might  ,be  as  happy  as 
I  woiild — would  always  have  you.  I  am  gi-ieved  to  think  that  Mrs. 
Coverdale  should  not  fully  appreciate  the  prize  she  has  drawn  in  that 
most  uncertain  of  all  lotteries,  man-iage  ;  but  I  feel  sm-e  she  will  leani 
to  understand  you  better,  and  all  will  come  right :  you  are  evidently 
much  attached  to  her,  and  that  being  the  case,  she  must  love  you." 
Then  in  a  lower  tone  she  added—"  You  are  not  one  likely  to  love  in 
vain." 

What  reply,  if  any,  Harry  would  have  made  to  this  speech,  will 
never  be  known,  as  at  that  minute  they  entered  the  line  of  carriages 
setting  down  at  the  gate  of  the  Chiswick  Gardens,  and  Coverdale  had 
enough  to  occupy  him  in  preventing  his  excitable  horses  from  com- 
mitting a  breach  of  the  peace.  Whether  or  no  the  phaeton  groom 
was  an  observant  man  we  cannot  say,  but  if  he  felt  the  degree 
of  amiable  interest  usually  displayed  by  domestic  sen'ants  in  the 
affairs  of  their  superiors,  he  must  have  been  struck  when  mentally 
contrasting  Mr.  Coverdale's  manner  of  handing  Miss  Crofton  into  and 
out  of  that  open  can-iage  by  an  immense  accession  of  cordiality,  for 
which  he  was  probably  more  puzzled  to  account  than  we  trust  the 
reader  finds  himself. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

FLOWERS  AND   THOENS. 

"  We  have  somehow  contrived  to  lose  sight  of  the  barouche,"  ex- 
claimed Coverdale,  after  looking  up  and  down  the  line  of  carriages  in 
vain ;  "  I  expect  they  must  have  escaped  us  when  that  white-nosed 
horse  shied  at  Punch  ;  I  fancied  I  knew  which  way  they  bad  turned, 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  201 

but  I  nmst  have  gone  clown  a  wi-ong  street— poor  old  Crane  will  be  in 
fits — I  wonder  what  we  had  better  do  P  " 

'■  What  I  should  suggest  is  to  walk  slowly  backwards  and  forwards 
inside  the  gate,  and  watch  for  their  an-ival,"  returned  Arabella, 
wishing  in  her  secret  soul  that  one  of  the  barouche-horses  might  have 
fallen  dead  hime,  or  that  any  other  catastrophe,  not  involving  injury 
to  life  or  limb,  might  have  befallen  the  rest  of  the  party. 

After  parading  up  and  down  with  most  laudable  perseverance  for 
nearly  half  an  hour,  during  which  time  the  crowd  grew  thicker  and 
thicker,  and  everybody  an-ived  except  the  party  they  were  in  search 
of,  Harry  suddenly  exclaimed, — 

"  You'll  be  tired  to  death  with  all  this  pushing  and  squeezing ; 
they  must  have  come  some  shorter  way,  and  got  here  before  us ;  let 
us  go  on  to  the  conseiTatory,  we  shall  meet  them  there,  I  dare 
say." 

When  they  reached  the  consei-vatory,  however,  they  found  the 
crowd  so  dense  that  to  attempt  to  discover  their  missing  friends 
would  have  involved  a  difficulty,  beside  which  that  popular  defi- 
nition of  a  forlora  hope,  "  looking  for  a  needle  in  a  bottle  of  hay," 
would  have  sunk  into  comparative  insignificance.  There  were  a 
couple  of  chairs  near  the  exit  from  the  conservatory,  from  which  a 
lady  and  gentleman  rose  as  they  approached. 

"  Suppose  we  take  possession  of  those  seats,"  suggested  Arabella, 
"  and  watch  the  people  as  they  come  out ;  I  must  honestly  confess 
I  am  both  hot  and  tired." 

"  I  sympathize  in  the  first  adjective,"  retunied  Harry,  taking  off 
his  hat  to  allow  the  air  to  cool  his  heated  brow  ;  "  I've  walked  up  hill 
through  heather  on  the  moors  for  six  hours  at  a  stretch,  and  not  been 
so  warm  as  this  ;  but  then  I  must  own  I  was  in  better  condition ;  one 
eats  too  many  dinners  in  London,  don't  you  see,  and  can't  get 
exercise  enough  to  keep  a  fellow  in  working  order." 

Having  made  a  suitable  reply  to  this  and  sundry  other  thoroughly 
Han-y  Coverdale-ish  remarks,  Miss  Crofton  turned  the  conversation 
by  asking, — 

"  Pray,  is  that  Mr.  DAlmayne  a  particular  favourite  of  yours  ?" 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  was  the  unhesitating  reply  ;  "  rather  the  other 
thing,  in  fact.  I  consider  him  a  confounded  puppy  ;  and  have  what 
you  ladies  call  a  presentiment  that  some  of  these  days  I  shall  be 
obliged  to  give  him  a  lesson  which  he  will  not  forget  in  a  huny." 

"  Then  you  also  have  obsei'ved— "  began  Arabella. 

"  I  have  observed  nothing  in  particular,"  interrupted  HaiTy 
quickly ;  "  but  I  know  this,  if  I  were  old  Crane  I  would  not  have  an 
insufferable,  ridiculous,  young  fop  dangling  about  my  house  every 
day,  and  all  day  long." 

"  I  think  it  is  silly  and  imprudent  in  Kate  to  allow  it,"  returned 
Arabella,  "  and  I  ventured  to  tell  her  so,  but  she  did  not  take  the  hint 
kindly,  and  I  have  not  attempted  to  recur  to  the  subject.  I  am  afraid 
her  man-iage  has  not  improved  her ;  I  reaUy  believe  since  I  spoke  to 


202  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

her  she  has  been  kinder  to  Mr.  D'Almayne  than  before ;  he  and  his 
insinuating  yonng  friend,  Lord  Alfred  Courtland,  have  almost 
lived  in  Park  Lane  this  last  week." 

"  His  friend !  "  exclaimed  Harry,  ''  little  Alfred  is  my  friend — he 
and  I  were  at  school  together — that  is,  he  was  at  the  bottom  when  I 
was  at  the  top ;  I  introduced  him  to  D'Almayne  myself,  and  now  I 
wish  I  had  left  it  alone  ;  oh,  there's  no  hai-m  in  little  Alfred — besides, 
I  never  heard  him  speak  a  dozen  words  to  Kate  Crane." 

A  meaning  smile  passed  across  his  companions  handsome  features, 
bxit  she  only  said, — 

"I  am  sorry  he  is  your  friend;  I  am  afraid  Mr.  DAlmayne  is  a 
dangerous  acquaintance  for  so  vain  and  weak  a  young  man.'' 

"  Alfred  is  no  fool,  tliough  perhaps  firmness  is  not  his  strong  point," 
returaed  Coverdale ;  "  vain  perhaps  he  is — all  handsome  boys  are,  I 
suppose.    But  why  do  you  say  you  are  soiTy  he  is  my  fxnend  ?  " 

Miss  Crofton  was  silent  for  a  minute,  then  in  a  timid  and  hesitat- 
ing voice  replied, — 

'■  You  will  be  angry  with  me  if  I  tell  you  my  reason  for  disliking 
Lord  Alfred's  constant  visits  ;  you  will  doubt  what  I  say,  and  impute 
to  me  all  kinds  of  false  and  evil  motives  for  saying  it." 

"  Go  on,"  retui'ned  Harry,  in  a  low,  stern  voice,  "  you  have  said  too 
much  for  me  to  rest  satisfied  not  to  hear  more— tell  me  all  you  know 
or  suspect ;  but  take  care— if,  as  you  say,  you  value  my  good  opinion 
— that  you  speak  only  the  simple  truth." 

Thus  urged.  Miss  Crofton  proceeded  cautiously  to  relate,  that 
much  as  it  gi'ieved  her  to  say  anything  which  might  cause  him  pain 
or  annoyance,  she  would  not  disguise  from  him  that  she  felt  con- 
vinced Lord  Alfred  Courtland  was  deeply  smitten  with  Alice,  and 
that  his  frequent  visits  to  Park  Lane  were  the  result  of  his  ad- 
miration—that, moreover,  Horace  D'Almayne  was  evidently  doing 
his  best  to  nurse  what  had  been  a  mere  boyish  fancy  into  a  warmer 
and  stronger  feeling ;  of  his  motive  she  was  unable  to  judge,  but  of 
the  fact  she  was  certain  ;  she  believed,  moreover,  that  he  possessed 
a  strong  and  daily  inci'easing  influence  over  the  young  man. 

"  And  Alice  ?  "  inquired  Coverdale,  with  flashing  eyes,  "  what  of 
Alice  ?  Beware  how  you  tell  me  that  she  encourages  this  misguided, 
foolish  boy  !  for  by  heaven,  if  you  do,  and  it  should  appear  that  you 
have  misjudged  her,  I  should  be  tempted  to  inform  her  and  all  the 
world  the  reason  which  has  induced  you  to  invent  such  malicious 
calumnies ! " 

*'  You  wrong  me  by  yoiu'  unkind  suspicions,"  was  Ai'abella's  calm 
reply,  "  as  much  as  you  wi'ong  yourself  by  an  luigenerous  threat 
which  you  would  be  incapable  of  executing  ;  it  is  not  for  me  to  judge 
Mrs.  Coverdale  one  way  or  the  other.  I  have  satisfied  my  conscience 
in  warning  you  ;  I  leave  you  now  to  examine  and  observe  for  your- 
seK,  and  test  the  ti-uth  of  my  statement — but  of  one  thing  I  am 
certain,  Horace  D'Almayne  has  some  deep  scheme  '  in  petto,'  and 
that  he  is  an  unsci'upulous  adventurer,  clever  enough  to  render  him 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  203 

a  most  dangerous  associate  for  any  one — a  person  to  beware  of,  in 
short." 

"If  I  become  convinced  lie  is  putting  young  Alfred  up  to  any 
such  rascality  as  you  imagine,  I'll  break  the  scoundrel's  neck  for 
him ! "  gi-owled  Coverdale,  in  a  tone  like  the  rumbling  of  distant 
thunder. 

As  he  spoke  someone  touched  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  looking 
roimd,  he  was  more  surprised  than  pleased  to  see  the  object  of  his 
kind  intentions  standing  behind  the  chair  on  which  he  was  seated. 
How  long  he  might  have  been  there,  or  how  much  of  their  conversa- 
tion he  might  have  heard,  it  was  impossible  to  tell ;  but  so  convinced 
was  Coverdale  that  D'Almayne  had  been  playing  the  eavesdropper, 
that  he  was  on  the  point  of  inquiring  what  amount  of  information 
he  had  thus  acquired,  and  especially  whether  he  had  clearly  under- 
stood the  fate  that  awaited  him,  if  he  were  really  inciting  "  little 
Alfred  "  to  make  love  to  his  wife,  when  D'Almayne,  who  possessed 
a  womanly  predilection  for  always  having  the  first  and  last  word, 
began, — 

"  Pardon  me  if  I  interrupt  what  appears  a  most  interesting  con- 
versation, but  I  have  been  hunting  aU  over  the  gardens  for  the  last 
half-hour  to  find  you.  Mr.  Crane  imagines  you  have  eloped  with  his 
phaeton  and  horses,  and  Mrs.  Coverdale  is  so  completely  '  au 
d^sespoir '  at  the  loss  of  her  husband,  that  even  Lord  Alfred  Court- 
land's  attentions  are  powerless  to  console  her  ; — really,  Miss  Crofton, 
it  is  too  ciiiel  of  you  to  seduce  Benedick  from  his  allegiance 
to  his  Beatrice — you  might  be  content  with  enslaving  us  poor 
bachelors ! " 

This  speech  was  not  particularly  palatable  to  Arabella,  and  she 
would  probably  have  passed  it  over  in  contemptuous  silence  had  she 
not  glanced  at  Coverdale ;  but,  perceiving  by  his  flashing  eye  and 
quivering  lip  that  he  was  so  angry  that  he  literally  dared  not  trust 
himself  to  reply,  she  hastened  to  prevent  anything  unpleasant 
occurring  between  them,  by  observing  in  her  usual  calm,  slightly 
sarcastic  manner, — 

"It  is  like  Mr.  D'Almayne's  policy  to  screen  himself  by  throwing 
the  blame  on  the  injured  party.  We  have  been  roaming  up  and 
down  like  restless  ghosts,  hunting  for  Mi-s.  Crane  and  Mrs.  Cover- 
dale  for  the  last  half-hour — ever  since  we  anivedin  fact,  until  I  grew 
so  tired,  that  out  of  compassion  Mr.  Coverdale  allowed  me  to  sit 
down  and  rest." 

"  One  word,  Mr.  D'Almayne,"  interrupted  Harry,  regardless  of  an 
imploring  look  and  gentle  pressure  of  the  arm  from  Arabella 
Crofton,  "  you  made  a  joke  (for  I  suppose  you  do  not  wish  me  to 
consider  you  spoke  sei-iously)  about  my  wife  a  minute  ago ;  now  I'm 
a  quick-tempered  fellow — touchy  you  may  call  it,  upon  some  points, 
and  this  happens  to  be  one  of  them  ;  so  to  prevent  anything 
disagreeable,  I  tell  you  frankly  I  don't  like  such  jokes— you  under- 
stand ?  " 


204  HARRY  CO VERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

Horace  did  understand ;  he  glanced  at  Han-y's  face.  The  hand- 
some mouth  was  sternly  compressed— the  small,  well-cut  nostril 
quivered,  and  the  large  dark  eyes  flashed  with  the  anger  he  could 
scarcely  restrain,  his  tall  form  was  drawn  up  to  its  full  height— his 
broad  chest  dilated,  and  the  muscles  stood  out  on  his  stalwart  arms 
until  their  shape  became  visible  beneath  the  '"  Zephyr  Paletot " ; 
altogether,  Coverdale  did  not  look  just  then  the  kind  of  man  with 
whom  it  would  be  pleasant  to  quarrel :  so  D'Almayne,  deeming 
"  discretion  the  better  part  of  valour,"  smiled,  and  said  something 
which  might  mean  anything,  and  conveyed  a  clear  idea  of  nothing, 
in  his  most  fascinating  manner,  and  then  piloted  his  companions  to 
the  spot  where  he  had  agreed  on  a  rendezvous  at  a  certain  time  with 
the  Crane  party.  They  had  not  yet  made  their  appearance,  however, 
and  D'Almayne  (who,  since  Harry  gave  him  the  "  caution  "  conveyed 
in  his  last  speech,  had  evinced  a  marked  desire  to  keep  on  good 
terms  with,  and  out  of  arms  reach  of,  so  dangerous  an  acquaintance), 
guessing  their  whereabouts,  volunteered  to  go  and  fetch  them. 

•■  Pray  do  not  quanel  with  that  man."  iirged  Ai-abella,  as 
D  Almayne  quitted  them  ;  "  you  are  as  little  his  equal  in  scheming 
and  mananivring,  as  he  is  youi-s  in  strength  and  ;com-age,  and  for 
this  reason  he  is  more  to  be  dreaded  than  if  he  were  a  very  Hercules ; 
do  not  lose  your  temper  with  him,  for  by  so  doing  you  will  put  your- 
self in  the  wrong  and  play  his  game ;  come,  be  guided  by  me  in  this 
matter ;  believe  me,  my  only  object  is  to  secure  your  happiness." 

As  she  spoke,  she  looked  xip  in  his  face  with  such  an  expression  of 
interest,  not  to  say  affection,  that  Coverdale.  whose  anger  at  the 
worst  was  always  a  very  evanescent  affair,  felt  an  impulse  of  pity 
for  her,  which  appeared  in  the  [softened  tones  of  his  voice,  as  he 
replied, — 

"  Dont  be  afraid ;  I'm  not  going  to  give  him  his  deserts  at  present, 
and  I'm  very  soiTy  I  spoke  harshly  to  you  just  now ;  but  I  know 
Alice  to  be  so  good,  and  true,  and  pure — innocent  and  spotless  as  a 
child  (by  heaven,  the  slightest  blow  to  my  faith  in  her  would  drive 
me  mad !),  and  the  mere  mention  of  that  foolish  boy  supposing  Iher 
to  be  a  fit  recipient  for  his  romantic  sentimental  nonsense,  made  me 
lose  my  temper  :  but  you  need  not  fear  my  doing  anything  hasty.  I 
shall,  as  you  advise,  observe  Alfred  Courtland,  and  if,  as  I  feel 
certain,  his  attentions  annoy  Alice,  I  shall  speak  to  him  seriously 
and  kindly  (I  know  the  boy  has  a  good  heart,  and  that  it  is 
D'Almayne  who  has  set  him  on  this  business,  if  he  is  set  on  it) ; 
then,  finding  I  am  aware  of  it,  his  fancy  wiD  die  a  nattu-al  death ; 
but  I  have  little  expectation  that  my  preaching  will  be  required, 
Alice's  indifference  will  work  the  best  cure." 

As  he  spoke,  the  Crane  party  came  in  sight,  Kate  and  her  husband 
leading  the  van,  closely  attended  by  Horace  D'Almayne ;  while,  at 
some  little  distance  behind  them,  lingered  Alice  on  the  arm  of 
Lord  Alfred  Courtland.  As  they  came  up,  he  was  addressing  her 
in  an  earnest,   pleading   manner.    Alice  appeared  thoughtful  and 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  205 

"  distraite,"  bxit  the  moment  her  eye  fell  upon  Harry  and  Miss 
Crof  ton  she  started,  coloured  up,  and  turning  to  her  companion,  said 
in  a  hui-ried,  eager  tone, — 

"  Such  constancy  and  perseverance,  my  lord,  deserve  rewarding;  " 
and  as  she  spoke  she  gave  him  a  rosebud  she  carried  in  her  hand, 
which  he  fastened  in  his  button-hole  with  an  expression  of  eager 
delight. 

Alice's  words  and  action  were  neither  of  them  lost  iipon  her 
husband  or  his  companion. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

ARCADIA   IN   THE   NINETEENTH   CENTURY. 

It  is  popularly  asserted  and  believed  that  everything  has  two  sides 
to  it.  Even  a  plum  pudding  has  an  inside  and  an  out ;  and  that 
romantic  malady,  yclept  "  love  unrequited,"  although  at  first  sight  it 
appears  an  entirely  one-sided  affair,  often  demonstrates  its  bilateral 
capabilities  by  proving  a  much  less  heai-trending  business  than  was 
imagined,  when  the  lapse  of  time  enables  one  to  discern  the  bright 
side  of  the  picture.  The  Crane  expedition  to  the  Horticultural  Fete 
formed  no  exception  to  this  law  of  nature : — thus  at  the  moment 
Avhen  Harry,  like  Hamlet's  unfortimate  papa,  was  having  poison 
iwured  into  his  ear,  and  was  gradually  w^orking  himself  up  to  the 
bolster  scene  in  Othello  pitch,  Alice,  that  pleasant  little  Desdemona, 
imconsciously  amused  lierseK  with  Cassio,  Lord  Courtland,  emida- 
ting  Dr.  Watts's  ''busy  bee,"  by  flitting  from  flower ^to  flower, 
laughing  at  very  small  jokes,  and  altogether  conducting  herself  with 
great  levity,  and  in  a  singularly  iindignified  manner— at  least,  so  Mr. 
Crane  thought ;  and  as  he  was  said  to  be  made  of  gold,  his  opinions 
ought  to  have  partaken  of  the  value  of  that  precious  metal.  But 
Mr.  Ci-ane  had  never  quite  forgiven  Alice  for  not  appreciating  his 
many  excellences,  and  was  disposed  to  judge  her  harslily.  After  a 
time,  however,  when  the  novelty  of  the  scene  began  to  wear  off — 
when  Alice  had  reviewed  the  contents  of  Howell  and  James's,  Swan 
and  Edgar's,  Redmayne's,  and  other  ruination  shops,  on  the  fair 
forms  of  the  ladies  of  the  land — Avhen  she  had  "  oh-how-beautiful-ed  " 
and  "  is-n't-it-lovely-ed  "  the  flowers  to  her  heart's  content — when  she 
had  heard,  and  longed  to  dance  to,  the  Guards'  band,  suddenly  a 
dark  vision  rose  to  her  mind's  eye — her  husband  tete-a-tete  with  that 
evil  mystery,  Arabella  Crofton,  obscured  the  sunshine  of  her  spirit  ; 


206  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

the  rose-coloured  spectacles  through  which  she  had  beheld  Vanity 
Fair  fell  oft";  the  serpent  had  entered  in;  and,  for  Alice  Coverdale, 
Chiswiok  was  Paradise  no  longer.  Thereupon  she  decided  that 
Lord  Alfred  was  a  silly  tiresome  boy,  and  worried  her  with  his 
childish  nonsense ;  that  Mr.  Crane  was  a  fractious  old  idiot,  who 
ought  to  be  shut  up  in  an  appropriate  asylum ;  that  Kate  looked 
bored  and  tired,  which  she  did  not  wonder  at;  that  Horace 
D'Almayne  was  fitter  for  the  Zoological  than  the  Horticultural 
Gardens,  and  deserved  to  be  caged  with  the  chimpanzees  without 
loss  of  time ;  and,  finally  (forgetting  their  separation  had  resulted 
from  a  caprice  of  her  o^vn),  that  Harry  was  very  unkind  to  stay 
away  from  her  in  that  way,  with  that  hateful  creature,  Arabella 
Crofton,  whom  she  was  sui'S  he  liked  after  all,  though  he  did  pretend 
to  treat  her  so  coldly. 

Then  people  began  to  push  and  crowd,  and  dresses  became  tumbled ; 
and  D'Almayne  having  left  the  party  to  look  for  Han-y  and  Miss 
Crofton,  Mr.  Crane  misled  them,  and  they  fell  into  difficulties,  and 
were  very  hot  and  uncomfortable ;  and  Alice  quite  pined  to  meet 
her  husband,  whose  sturdy  arm  would  have  supported  her,  and 
whose  tall  figure  and  broad  shoulders  would  have  forced  a  way  for 
her  through  the  crowd.  Next,  Lord  Alfred  began  to  tease  her  to 
give  him  a  flower  from  her  bouqxTet,  and  got  snubbed  for  his  pains  ; 
until  Horace  D Almayne,  returning,  made  his  report,  viz.  that,  after 
much  toil  and  trouble,  he  had  at  length  discovered  Miss  Crofton 
and  Mr.  Coverdale,  seated  together  in  a  shady  corner,  apparently 
absorbed  in  some  deeply  interesting  topic  of  conversation.  This 
information,  tallying  so  exactly  with  her  worst  fears,  and  finding 
poor  little  Mrs.  Coverdale  both  vexed  and  tired,  very  nearly  produced 
a  burst  of  tears,  to  avoid  which  pathetic  display  she  did  that  which 
the  unfortimate  first  Mrs.  Dombey  failed  to  effect — viz.  she  "  made  an 
eft'ort,"  and  became,  not  exactly  herself  again,  but  Alice  Coverdale 
as  she  ai^peared  when  enacting  the  heai-tless  coquette.  And  this  she 
did,  poor  child !  not  from  a  want,  but  from  a  superfluity  of  heart. 
So,  seeking  to  read  her  truant  husband  a  jjractical  moral  lesson  on 
the  iniquity  of  charioteering  dangerous  damsels,  in  common  with 
whom  he  possessed  mysterious  antecedents,  she  afforded  Lord  Alfred 
a  "  material  guarantee  "  of  her  favour,  in  the  shape  of  the  flower  he 
had  coveted ;  and  haA'ing  thus  firmly  riveted  his  chains,  ostensibly 
petted  and  made  much  of  her  captive.  This  conduct  on  his  wife's 
part  was  by  no  means  calculated  to  soothe  Harry  Coverdale,  pained, 
rufiled,  and  excited  by  his  conversation  with  Arabella  Crofton ;  and, 
without  reflecting  on  the  prudence  or  politeness  of  such  a  proceeding, 
he  left  his  late  companion  to  take  care  of  herself,  and  stalking  with 
stately  steps,  as  of  an  offended  lion,  up  to  Lord  Alfred  Courtland, 
observed,  in  a  tone  of  dignified  irony, — 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  your  Lordship  for  taking  such  extreme 
care  of  Mrs.  Coverdale,  but  will  now  relieve  you  from  any  further 
trouble  on  her  account :  take  my  arm,  Alice." 


A 


,1t 


V 


1 

■ 

M 

^^H 

i 

: 

^^^1 

208  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

her  gratitude  for  your  having  rendered  her  jealous  of  her  husband 
—not  that  you  seem  to  require  any  help— I  saw  where  that  rosebud 
came  from,  coquin ;  but  now  you  may,  if  you  will,  render  me  a 
service  ;  find  your  way  to  the  entrance  gate,  and  wait  till  my  friend. 
Monsieur  Guillemard,  makes  his  appearance— probably  you  will 
find  him  iwaiting  there  ah-eady— and  having  discovered  him,  bring 
him  here." 

As  the  obedient  lordling  strolled  away  on  his  mission,  the  inde- 
fatigable Horace  gathered  a  rose ;  then  approaching  Kate  Crane,  he 
lisped  in  his  most  dreamy  and  affected  style,— 

"I've  been  searching  everywhere  to  find  a  rose  of  that  peculiar 
tint  which  might  harmonize  and  yet  contrast  well  with  your  di'ess  ; 
at  length  I  am  charmed  to  say  my  effoi-ts  have  l)een  successful.  Mr. 
Crane,  will  you  favour  me  by  presenting  this  rose  to  Madame  P 
Coming  through  your  hands,  I  feel  sure  it  will  be  accepted." 

"  No,  positively ;  that  is,  really  it  will  be  much  more  fitting — if  I 
may  be  allowed  to  say  so — that,  as  you  have  been  so  obliging  as  to 
find  it,  you  should  yourself  present  it.  Mrs.  Crane  will,  I  feel  con- 
vinced, be  happy  to  acknowledge  your  politeness  by  accepting  a 
flower  offered— if  I  may  be  permitted  to  say  so — with  such  propriety 
and  respect." 

D'Almayne  appeared  about  to  avail  himself  of  the  permission  which 
Mr.  Crane  thus  graciously  accorded  him ;  when  s\iddenly  drawing 
back,  he  exclaimed.  "  Excuse  me  one  minute  ;  the  thonis  are  so  very 
sharp,  I  am  afraid  to  hand  it  to  you  without  some  protection  against 
them ; " — then,  taking  a  slip  of  paper  from  his  waistcoat  pocket,  he 
wound  it  round  the  stem  of  the  flower,  and  fixing  his  eyes  with  a 
meaning  look  on  those  of  Kate,  he  gave  her  the  rose.  Having  done 
so,  he  began  talking  to  Mr.  Crane ;  and  soon  contrived,  by  a  judicious 
selection  of  topics,  chiefly  connected  with  the  Stock  Exchange,  to 
engross  that  zealous  Mammonite's  attention.  As  soon  as  his  wife 
perceived  this  to  be  the  case,  she  unrolled  the  paper  from  the  stem 
of  the  rose,  and,  glancing  at  it  hastily,  perceived  the  following  words 
wi'itten  in  Horace  D'Almayne's  neat  hand  :  "  Give  me  five  minutes' 
conversation — I  will  make  the  opportunity,  if  you  -will  avail  yourself 
of  it."  Instantly  crushing  it  in  her  hand,  she  i-ushed  into  conversa- 
tion with  Arabella  Crofton,  on  the  merits  and  demerits  of  certain 
new  annuals;  which  subject,  skilfully  managed,  lasted  her  until 
Lord  Alfred  Courtland  retiu-ned,  arm  in  arm  with  Monsieur  Guille- 
mard, better  got  up,  more  jaunty,  and  in  yellower  kid  gloves  than 
ever.  This  ^^vacious  foreigner  was  instantly  captured  by  Horace, 
and  desired  to  explain,  "  as  he  alone  could  do,"  the  peculiar  advan- 
tages of  that  famous  investment  in  Ten-a  Cotta  preference  bonds, 
as  Mr.  Crane  had  an  odd  .£10,000  lying  comparatively  fallow— only 
at  three-and-a-half  per  cent. — which  he  would  be  glad  to  put  out 
well.  So  foolish  avarice  and  clever  roguery  ambled  off  together. 
Then  D'Almayne  contrived  to  despatch  Coverdale  and  his  wife  to 
look  at  a  wonderful  specimen  of  the  Hypothetica  Screamans,  and  to 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  200 

saddle  Lord  Alfred  with  Arabella  Crofton,  although  that  smitten 
young  aristocrat  would  have  jjreferred  to  have  trotted  mildly  about 
after  Alice,  like  a  pet  lamb.  Having  disposed  of  these  super- 
numeraries, he  as  a  matter  of  coiu-se  offered  his  arm  to  Kate, 
who  had  quietly  acquiesced  in  his  arrangements,  and  followed 
at  such  a  judicious  distance  that,  although  they  still  belonged  to 
the  party,  in  effect  they  enjoyed  all  the  advantages  of  a  tete-a- 
tete. 

D'Almayne  was  the  first  to  break  silence. 

"  This  is  most  kind,"  he  said,  "  and  leads  me  to  hope  that  you  are 
at  length  beginning  to  understand  me — to  pei'ceive  that  my  only 
wish  is  to  act  the  part  of  a  true  friend  towards  you.  I  have  a  con- 
viction that  I  owe  a  duty  to  you,  for  I  often  i-eflect  with  pain  how 
large  a  share  I  had  in  bringing  about  your  mannage." 

At  these  words  Kate  gave  a  slight  start,  and  her  colour 
deepened ;  not  appearing  to  observe  these  signs  of  agitation,  her 
companion  resumed : — 

"  You  may  not  be  aware  that  it  was  by  my  advice  that  Mr.  Crane 
transferred  his  attentions  fi'om  your  cousin  (whose  affection  for 
Mr.  Coverdale  I  perceived  would  oppose  an  effectual  barrier  to  his 
wishes)  to  yourself : — my  object  in  doing  so  was  twofold.  Mr.  Crane 
had  shown  me  much  kindness  and  attention ;  he  was  anxious  to 
maiTy  some  one  whose  presence  would  invest  his  home  with  an  air  of 
distinction  and  attractiveness  which  his  wealth  could  never  bestow. 
The  moment  I  belield  Miss  Marsden,  I  felt  that  no  one  could  do  so 
more  efl&eiently.  Thus,  from  an  impulse  of  gi'atitude  towards  Mr. 
Ci'ane,  I  persuaded  him  that  it  would  be  in  every  way  a  most  suitable 
and  desirable  match,  and  induced  him  to  make  such  an  offer  to  Mr. 
Hazlehurst  as  should  neutralize  any  objection  that  gentleman  might 
have  had  to  your  occupying  the  position  he  had  destined  for  his 
daughter.  Again  mistaking,  in  great  measure,  both  your  character 
and  that  of  Mr.  Crane,  I  believed  you  would  have  suited  each  other 
far  better  than  I  fear  is  the  case :  I  fancied  you  ambitious,  and  that 
the  power  which  wealth  would  bestow  would  render  you  not  only 
contented,  but  happy,  while  I  trusted  man-iage  would  develop  in 
Mr.  Crane  traits  of  generosity  and  tenderaess  of  which  I  now  am 
forced  to  confess  his  nature  is  incapable.  Had  I  guessed  this  sooner, 
I  need  scarcely  add,  the  respect  and  admiration  I  have  always 
experienced  for  one  so  gifted  as  you  are  would  have  prevented  my 
advocating  the  match.  All  that  now  remains  for  me  is  to  compensate, 
as  far  as  it  is  in  my  power  to  do  so,  for  any  little  failures  in  tact 
(believe  me  they  are  nothing  more)  of  which  my  excellent  friend, 
Mr.  Crane,  may  be  guilty ;  and  I  speak  thus  honestly  and  openly  in 
order  that,  appreciating  my  motives,  you  may  place  full  confidence 
in  me,  and  thus  enable  me  "—and  here  he  sank  his  voice  almost  to 
a  whisper — "to  assist  you  in  bearing  the  burden  which  I  have 
unconsciously  helped  to  place  upon  you." 

"  I  must  believe  you  mean  kindly  by  me,"  was  Kate's  reply  ;  "  but 

p 


210  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

you  are  aware  that  -wltli  me  deeds  tell  better  than  words.  Has  the 
application  been  made  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  with  what  result  ?    But  I  fear  I  need  scarcely  ask." 

"  Not  a  favourable  one,  I  rep:ret  to  say.  Mr.  Crane  saw  Mrs. 
Leonard,  hoping,  I  fancy,  that  she  might  have  learned  some  tidings 
of  her  husband ;  but  when  he  became  aware  of  the  object  of  her  visit, 
he  not  only  refused  to  assist  her,  or  to  do  anything  for  her  childi'en, 
but  grew  irritated,  reproached  her  with  what  he  termed  her  husband's 
infamous  conduct,  declared  he  had  lost  thousands  of  pounds  by  his 
negligence,  and  wound  up  by  threatening  that,  if  she  ever  set  foot  in 
his  house  again,  he  would  give  her  in  charge  to  the  police.  When  I 
visited  her,  I  found  her  in  tears,  and  utterly  heart-broken  by  this 
failure  of  her  last  hope." 

"  You  must  go  to  her  again,"  exclaimed  Kate  eagerly  ;  "  tell  her 
you  have  mentioned  her  necessities  to  a  lady  of  your  acquaintance, 
who  is  willing,  and,  thank  God,  able  to  assist  her ;  give  her  money ; 
find  out  what  she  most  requires  ;  devise  some  plan  by  which  she  may 
be  enabled  to  support  herself  and  educate  her  children.    Oh !  if  I  can 

save  this  poor  family  from  ruin,  it  will  be   some  little "     She 

checked  herself  abruptly,  then  continued :  "  Mr.  Crane  is  most 
liberal  to  me,  and  allows  me  more  than  1  have  the  least  occasion  or 
desire  to  spend  on  myself — so  do  not  let  them  want  for  anything 
And  oh !  be  most  careful— you  say  she  is  a  lady,  poor  thing ! — be  most 
careful  not  to  wound  her  feelings.  You  do  not  know  how  shrinkingly 
sensitive  poverty  makes  natures  that  are  at  all  refined." 

"  I  fear  Mr.  Crane's  words,  spoken,  I  dare  say,  under  a  very  just 
feeling  of  annoyance,  both  pained  and  irritated  her,"  returned 
D'Almayne.  "  She  naturally  draws  a  strong  line  between  the  fact 
that  her  husband  has  been  imprudent  and  unfortunate  and  the 
insinuation  that  he  had  been  criminal.  Mr.  Crane,  I  grieve  to  say, 
appeared  to  doubt  the  truth  of  her  statement  that  Mr.  Leonard  was 
ignorant  of  his  partner's  intended  flight  and  defalcation." 

"  Ungenerous  !  cruel !  "  murmured  Kate,  carried  away  by  her  ex- 
citement, and  forgetting,  or  perhaps  at  the  moment  scarcely  heeding, 
the  fact  that  D  Almayne's  quick  ears  were  eagerly  drinking  in  these 
acknowledgments  of  the  estimation  in  which  she  held  her  husband. 

"  I  am  most  anxious  to  save  you  all  trouble  in  this  matter," 
resumed  D'Almayne ;  "  but  it  would  be  a  great  satisfaction  to  me, 
and  relieve  me  of  a  responsibility  for  which  I  am  scarcely  fitted,  if  you 
would  not  object  to  visit  Mrs.  Leonard  yourself.  She  is  alreadj'^  most 
anxious  to  see  and  thank  the  kind  benefactress  to  whom  I  have  in- 
formed her  she  is  indebted.  "Were  you  once  to  talk  to  her.  you  would 
Ijerceive  the  gentle  yet  strong  nature  we  have  to  deal  with;  you 
would  learn  her  hopes,  fears,  and  prospects  from  her  own  lips  rather 
than  thi-ough  such  an  unworthy  interj^reter  as  myself ;  you  would 
see  the  interesting  children ; — may  I  hope  that  you  will  consent  ?  " 

Kate  i)aused — considered ;  but  her  answer  demands  a  fresh  chapter. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  2n 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

A  CONCESSION  AND  A  "  PABTIE  CARRIE," 

The  question  we  left  Kate  Ci-ane  considering  in  the  last  chapter  she 
decided  thus : — 

"  I  should  like  to  visit  Mrs.  Leonard,"  she  said  slowly.  "  I  feel  the 
truth  of  all  you  urge — but  there  are  difficulties  in  the  way ;  Mr. 
Crane  would  greatly  disapprove  of  such  a  proceeding  on  my  part." 

"  He  need  never  know  it,"  suggested  D'Almayne,  in  a  voice  little 
above  a  whisper. 

"  He  need  not,"  returned  Kate  calmly,  "  but  I  have  since  my 
marriage  made  it  a  point  of  conscience  never  to  do  anything  which 
I  should  object  to  Mr.  Crane's  hearing  of  ;  I  still  consider  the  rule  at 
good  one,  and  am  disinclined  to  break  thi-ough  it." 

"Does  not  your  sensitive  conscience,"  rejoined  D'Almayne,  "lead 
you  to  refine  rather  too  much,  until,  adhering  to  the  form  of  goodness^ 
you  in  a  great  degree  lose  the  substance,  and  thus,  by  a  chivalrous 
scruple  of  never  disobeying  your  husband,  miss  an  opportunity  of 
doing  real  good,  by  which  you  would  neutralize  the  injury  which  Mr. 
Crane's  peculiarities  may  otherwise  inflict  upon  this  unfortunate 
family  ?  I  think,  if  you  reflect  on  this  for  a  minute,  your  excellent 
sense  will  convince  you  that  your  amiable  but  romantic  scruple  is 
fallacious." 

Kate  did  reflect,  and  apparently  her  convictions  assumed  the  shape 
D'Almayne  had  predicted,  for  she  replied  in  a  less  assured  voice  than 
that  in  which  she  had  formerly  addressed  him, — 

"  Mr.  D'Almayne,  you  have  spoken  more  honestly  and  openly 
to-day  than  you  have  ever  done  before,  and  I  will  treat  you  with  equal 
frankness.  You  were  acquainted  with  Mr.  Crane  before  I  had  ever 
heard  his  name  ;  you  appear  to  know  him  well ;  you  have  alluded  gene- 
rally to  his  good  points,  and  have  pointed  out  his  weak  ones  with  equal 
talent  and  perspicuity.  I  neither  admit  nor  deny  your  statements — 
but,  in  the  individual  instance  before  us,  I  believe  that  you  are  right. 
You  have  been  very  kind  in  this  matter ;  you  first  introduced  this 
poor  Mrs.  Leonard  to  my  notice ;  you  have  since  taken  much  dis- 
interested trouble  on  her  account ;  you  possess  great  tact,  and  have 
divined  the  happiness  it  affords  me  to  assist  those  who,  from  mis- 
fortune and  poverty,  have  fallen  from  the  rank  of  gentlewomen  ; — 
therefore  in  this  matter,  I  feel  you  have  a  claim  to  woi-k  with  me ; 
for  the  first  time,  therefore,  I  will  repose  confidence  in  you.  I  wish 
to  visit  this  poor  lady — how  am  I  to  accomplish  it  without  my 
husband's  knowledge  ?  " 


212  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

Horace  D'Almayne  had  won  his  point,  Horace  D'Ahnayne  was 
happy!  yet  he  did  not  clap  his  hands,  neither  did  he  hurrah  wildly, 
nor  dance  a  lively  measure  around  Kate  Crane,  whom  he  believed  he 
had  circumvented  in  a  different  manner ;  but  he  forced  his  imper- 
turbable countenance  into  an  expression  of  philanthropic  benevolence 
and  gratitude,  and  arranged  with  Mrs.  Crane  a  plan  by  which,  during 
her  husband's  daily  worship  in  the  temple  of  Mammon,  his  god — an 
edifice  more  familiarly  known  in  the  good  city  of  London  as  the 
Stock  Exchange — she  should  visit  unfortunate  Mrs.  Leonard,  and 
witness  with  her  own  eyes  how  justly  the  prince  of  this  world  (who 
is  identical  with  the  monarch  of  a  lower  kingdom  still)  distributes 
his  subjects'  property. 

About  this  time  all  the  members  of  this  disunited  party  assembled 
and  jointly  and  severally  ended  their  day's  enjoyment  (?)  by  returning 
home  tired,  dejected,  and  suffering  more  or  less  from  that  ailment 
which  defies  those  guinea-pigs,  "  the  faculty  " — an  ailment  as  rife  in 
St.  James's  as  are  cholera  and  small-pox  within  the  precincts  of  St. 
Giles's — an  ailment  which,  thanks  to  those  bitter  curses,  the  forms, 
ceremonies,  requirements,  and  prejudices  of  society,  afflicts  and 
hangs  heavily  on  many  an  honest  man  and  loving  woman — an  ailment 
indigenous  even  in  our  glorious  constitution,  and  which  has  as  many 
aliases  as  shapes,  the  spleen,  ennui,  but  truest  name  of  all,  the 
Heart-ache. 

"  Ogni  Medaglia  ha  il  suo  reverso,"  there  is  no  rule  without  its 
exception!  Horace  DAlmayne  was  the  exception  to  this  particular 
rule — he  was  not  troubled  with  heart-ache,  because  in  the  meta- 
physical sense  of  the  word,  he  did  not  possess  a  heart ;  but  nature 
had  made  it  up  to  him  by  giving  him  a  very  clear  head,  and  thus  it 
reasoned : — 

"  Yes,  my  pi-etty  Kate,  '  tout  va  bien  ' ;  you  have  grown  civil,  almost 
kind— not  yet  affectionate,  but  that  is  to  come.  Yet  she  is  clever, 
doubts,  suspects  me  ! — what  children  women  are,  even  clever  women ; 
once  appeal  to  their  feelings,  their  impulses — bah  !  their  reason  lies 
captive  before  you — they  are  puppets  in  yoixr  hand.  '  Ah  !  c'est  bien 
drole,  cette  petite  existence  ici-bas  ! '  for  the  rest,  all  goes  well ;  the 
beautiful  Kate  shall  compromise  herself — the  millionaire  shall  open 
wider  his  purse  strings — the  bank  wins  for  me — the  little  Alfred 
plays  my  game — courage,  Horace  !  thy  star  is  in  the  ascendant,  you 
will  die  a  rich  man  yet !  " 


The  morning  after  the  Horticultural  Fete,  Coverdale  suggested  to 
his  wife  that  they  had,  in  his  opinion,  spent  sufiicient  time  and  money 
in  the  gay  metropolis,  and  that  agricultural  and  manorial  duties 
called  him  to  the  country  forthwith ;  but  Alice  pleaded  so  earnestly 
for  only  one  week  more  of  dissipation,  with  Lady  Tattersall  Trotte- 
mout's  "  soiree  dansante  "  at  the  end  of  it,  that  Harry  could  not 
find  it  in  his  heart  to  refuse  her.    Scarcely  had  he  yielded  the  point 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  213 

wlien  a  letter  arrived  from  Tom  Rattleworth,  Magristrate,  and  Master 
of  Fox-hounds,  to  inform  liim  that,  owing  to  the  baneful  influence  of 
a  certain  grand  seigneur  in  the  neighbourhood,  it  was  proposed  to 
enclose  a  common  and  turn  a  road,  which  would  desti'oy  a  favourite 
fox  cover  and  give  Coverdale  half  a  mile  further  to  drive  to  the 
nearest  railway  station — that  the  matter  was  to  be  decided  at  the 
next  meeting  of  magistrates — that  he  (Thomas)  had  striven  tooth 
and  nail  to  get  up  an  opposition,  in  which  he  had  been  tolerably 
successful,  and  that  he  considered  it  only  required  Coverdale's 
presence  to  prevent  the  evil  altogether.  Thus  urged,  Harry  had  but 
one  coiu'se  to  pursue,  viz.  commend  his  wife  to  Mrs.  Crane's  safe 
custody,  and  start  for  Coverdale  Park  forthwith,  promising  to  return 
in  time  for  "  Lady  Tat.  Trott.'s  benefit,"  as  he  was  pleased  to  term  it. 
Alice  at  first  opposed  his  going,  but  when  she  found  the  question 
resolved  itself  into  one  of  these  altei'natives,  either  that  she  must 
let  him  go  alone,  or  give  up  her  ball  and  accompany  him,  her 
opposition  ceased.  So  Harry  packed  his  carpet-bag  and  departed 
— and  the  hours  rolled  by  on  their  patent  noiseless  wheels,  until  the 
time  appointed  for  that  notable  solemnity,  Lady  Tattersall  Trotte- 
moiit's  "  soir<5e  dansante,"  arrived. 

On  that  day  Lord  Alfred  Courtland  invited  to  a  quiet  dinner,  at 
his  comfortable  bachelor  lodgings,  Horace  D'Almayne,  Monsieur 
Guillemard,  and  a  youth  who,  because  he  was  in  every  particular  Lord 
Alfred's  exact  opposite,  was  an  especial  crony  of  his.  Jack  Beaupeep, 
getatis  twenty-five,  was  a  clerk  in  a  public  ofiice  with  a  salary  of  ^6150 
per  annum,  on  which,  by  means  of  his  talents,  he  contrived  to  live  at 
the  rate  of — anything  under  a  thousand.  As,  however,  we  shall 
not  have  very  much  to  do  with  him  in  the  course  of  this  history,  we 
will  spare  the  reader  further  details  by  summing  up  his  character  in 
the  two  expressive  words,  "  fast "  and  "  fimny."  Everybody  knows 
a  fast,  funny  man  ;  and  his  was  a  bad  case  of  the  complaint.  At  a 
quarter  to  eight,  p.m.,  on  the  day  in  question,  this  excellent  young 
buffoon  of  private  life  betook  himself  to  Lord  Alfred's  lodgings,  and 
finding  himself  first  in  the  field  looked  around  with  a  practised  eye 
for  the  best  means  of  turning  the  situation  to  comic  effect.  First  he 
perceived  a  valuable  statuette  of  Yenus,  as  she  appeared  before  the 
discovery  of  the  art  of  dress-making,  for  which  his  innate  sense  of 
propriety  led  him  to  improvise  a  petticoat,  by  means  of  a  doyley 
and  a  small  portion  of  the  red  tape  of  Old  England,  purloined  from 
her  Britannic  Majesty's  stores  that  morning,  and  secreted  by  the 
delinquent  for  any  possible  exigencies  of  practical  jesting.  Having 
attired  this  young  lady  to  his  satisfaction,  he  obligingly  bestowed  on 
her  a  real  Havannah  cigar,  which,  thrust  through  an  opening  left  by 
the  sculptor  in  her  clenched  hand,  with  the  end  resting  against  her 
ambrosial  lips,  resembled  a  speaking-trumpet,  and  gave  her  that 
"  ship-ahoy !  "  kind  of  appearance  with  which  early  engravers  were 
pleased  to  endow  Fame.  He  then  wrote  and  wafered  on  the  pedestal 
of  the  statuette  thus  embellished  a  label,  bearing  the  inscription. 


214  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"Eugenie,  Empress  of  tlie  Frencli,"  munnuriiig  to  himself, 
"Delicate  little  compliment  to  the  illustrious  foreigner  who  is 
coming."  Next  he  availed  himself  of  a  pair  of  boxing-gloves ; 
"  unearthing,"  as  he  termed  it,  the  rolls  inserted  in  two  of  the  dinner 
napkins,  and  substituting  for  them  these  elementary  instructors  in 
the  noble  art  of  self-defence ;  and,  lastly,  espying  the  cruet-stand, 
he  had  just  time  to  reverse  the  contents  of  the  pepper  and  sugar 
casters,  and  confuse  all  the  sauces,  when  to  him  entered  Lord  Alfred 
Courtland. 

This  young  nobleman's  appeai-ance  had  considerably  changed  since 
first  we  had  the  pleasure  of  describing  him.  By  abstruse  study  and 
imflagging  attention  to  the  sayings  and  doings  of  men-about-town, 
he  had  acquired  many  noble  attril)utes — he  could  lounge  and  dawdle, 
aad  walk  with  a  pert  yet  lazy  roll  in  his  gait,  as  of  a  tipsy  dancing- 
master,  or  of  a  cock-sparrow  afflicted  with  sciatica ;  he  coiild  lisp 
as  though  his  A-^ery  tongue  was  too  about-town-ish  to  speak  plain, 
unadulterated  English;  he  could  make  play  with  his  eyes  half 
shut,  like  a  timid  girl,  or  stare  with  them  offensively  wide  open,  like 
an  insolent  coxcomb,  though  he  was  not  quite  perfect  in  this  last 
manceuvre  as  yet.  Also  his  clothes  were  large  and  loose  enough  for 
himself  and  half  another  man-about-town  besides;  and  he  had  a 
bunch  of  baby's  toys,  modelled  in  gold,  dangling  from  his  watch- 
chain — Lilliputian  house  furniture,  and  a  gun,  and  a  sword,  and  a 
pistol  to  match,  and  a  little  man  in  armour  with  impossible  features, 
aiccompanied  by  a  horrid  little  skull  of  the  same  after  his  decease, 
with  two  of  his  little  golden  mari-ow-bones  crossed  lunder  it,  as  if 
tliey  were  saying  their  prayers ;  there  was  likewise  a  ri-dicnlous  fish, 
which  wagged  its  tail,  and  a  fox's  mask,  as  it  is  "  knowing  "  to  term 
the  physiognomy  of  that  astute  quadrapedal  mai-tyi- ;  the  whole  to 
conclude  with  a  limp  and  jointed  puuchinello,  or  tomfool,  as  a 
pendant  (in  evei-y  sense  of  the  word)  to  the  fool  of  larger  growth  who 
wore  these  childish  absurdities.  Thus  attired  and  adorned,  Lord 
Alfred  Courtland  withdrew  one  white  hand  from  a  pocket  of  his 
liberal  trousers,  and  laying  it  on  Beaupeep's  shoulder  with  a  want 
of  energy,  general  lassitude,  and  fish-out-of-water-ishness  of  manner 
which  did  him  infinite  credit,  drawled  forth, — 

"  Ay ;  my  dear  fellar  !  this  is  veray  good  of  you  to  come  at  such 
short  notice ! " 

"  Not  at  all,  not  at  all,"  was  the  brisk  reply,  for  Beaupeep  did  not 
go  in  for,  or  revere,  the  all-to-pieces  style,  but  rather  made  it  a  theme 
for  playful  jesting  ;  "  when  I  got  your  invite,  I  just  scribbled  off  a 
line  to  Palmerston  to  say  I'd  dine  with  him  to-morrow  instead  of  to- 
day." 

Lord  Alfred  quietly  raised  his  eyebrows,  while,  nothing  abashed 
Beaupeep  continued, — 

"It's  very  jolly  to  be  on  those  terms  with  a  man  like  '  Pam.,'  and  I 
consider  it  quite  sufficient  recompense  for  my  unwearying  devotion 
to  my  public  duties," 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  215 

"  It  really  won't  do  with  me,  my  dear  Jack,"  interrupted  Lord 
Alfred,  in  a  tone  of  affectionate  remonstrance ;  "  reflect  how  lon<? 
we've  known  each  other !  " 

"  By  the  way,"  recommenced  Jack,  ignoring  the  interruptional 
rebuke,  "  talking  of  '  Pam.'  puts  me  in  mind  of  the  Foreign  Office, 
which,  not  unnaturally,  leads  to  the  inquiry  of  who  may  be  the 
illustrious  '  Mossoo '  who  is  to  make  our  fourth  to-day  ?  " 

"  Monsieur  Guillemard !  oh,  he  is  a  very  gentlemanly  and  intelli- 
gent Fi'enchman  and  a  particular  friend  of  Horace  D'Almayne's." 

"  But  what  is  he  ?  "  continued  Beaupeep  pertinaciously  ;  "  is  he  a 
noble  political  exile,  or  a  perruquier  from  the  Palais  Royal,  who  can't 
meet  his  liabilities  ?  does  he  gain  a  frugal  living  by  imparting  a 
knowledge  of  his  native  tongue  in  six  lessons,  at  half-a-crown  each  ? 
or — " 

"  Hush  !  here  he  is,"  interrupted  Lord  Alfred,  as  a  smart  rat-tat- 
tat  at  the  house-door  announced  an  arrival ;  "  he  has  something  to 
do  with  the  funds,  and  the  financial  interests,  and  the  Rothschilds, 
and  all  that  mysterious  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence  business  in 
regard  to  which  I  have,  I  am  afraid,  no  clearly  defined  ideas." 

"  Except  to  spend  'em  first,  and  make  your  governor  shell  out 
afterwards,  you  lucky  beggar,  you ! "  was  the  plainly  audible 
aside,  as  the  servant  announced  Monsieur  Guillemard  and  Mr. 
D'Almayne. 

After  the  ceremony  of  introducing  the  volatile  Jack  to  the  new 
comers  had  been  performed,  that  individual  immediately  attached 
himself  and  devoted  his  conversation  to  Monsieur  Guillemard, 
whom  he  persisted  in  addressing  as  "  Mossoo  le  Comte,"  and  whom 
he  seemed  to  imagine  just  caught  in  some  very  foreign  country 
indeed,  and  ignorant  of  the  simplest  English  manners  and  customs ; 
a  delusion  to  which  that  gentleman's  limited  acquaintance  with 
Lindley  Murray's,  or  indeed,  any  other  British  grammar,  lent  some 
slight  colouring. 

"  I  think  I  observed,  Mossoo  le  Comte,  that  you  came  in  a  hansom 
cab  ?  "  remarked  Jack. 

"  Ters,  we  promenaded  in  a  ver  handsome  carb,  a  handsome  horg 
also;  you  shall  di*ive  some  much  more  handsome  hors  in  your  street 
than  with  us,"  was  the  reply. 

"  The  native  British  cab  is  a  great  and  noble  product  of  the  liberal 
institutions  of  this  free  and  happy  land,"  returned  Jack  oratorically  ; 
"  if  an  Englishman  chooses  to  walk,  an  enlightened  legislatui-e  not 
only  allows  him  to  do  so,  but  provides  him  with  a  granite  pavement 
to  walk  upon  ;  if  he  chooses  to  I'ide,  the  legislature  has  a  cab  awaiting 
his  slightest  wink — a  mere  contraction  of  the  eyelid,  Mossoo  le 
Comte,  obtains  for  the  wearied  Englishman  a  luxurious  vehicle,  a 
swift  and  steady  horse,  and  a  skilful  driver,  prepared  to  convey  him 
one  mile  in  any  conceivable  direction,  for  the  trifling  outlay  of  six- 
pence sterling." 

"  With  the  advantage  o£  studying  the  patois  of  Billingsgate  in  for 


216  HARRY  COVERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

the   money,  when  the  cabman  returns  tlianks  for  his  fare,"  added 
D'Almayne. 

Jack  Beaupeep  favoured  him  with  a  glance  of  inquiry  which,  if  it 
had  been  fi-amed  in  words,  would  have  run  thus — "  Are  you  a  knave 
or  a  fool  ?  "  Apparently  deciding  in  favour  of  the  former  hypothesis, 
he  I'esumed, — 

"  The  additional  attraction  to  which  you  so  perspicuously  allude, 
my  dear  sir,  involves  yet  another  striking  peculiarity— viz.  this 
driver,  who  so  carefully  conducts  yoii  through  thecrowded  thorough- 
fares of  oiu"  colossal  metropolis,  is  no  servile  hireling,  no  parasitical 
serf  to  crouch  at  your  feet,  but  A  man,  sir — a  freeborn  Briton — with 
as  much  vested  right  in  '  Rule  Britannia '  as  yourself.  Sir !  when  a 
dissatisfied  cabman  alludes  to  my  eyes  and  limbs,  I  open  widely 
those  aspersed  optics,  proudly  draw  up  those  vituperated  limbs,  and 
rejoice  that  he  and  I  ai-e  fellow-countrymen  !  " 

"  My  dear  Jack,  we're  not  vnpon  the  hustings  ;  we  have  none  of  us 
the  slightest  intention  of  coming  in  for  anywhere ;  and  dinner  has 
been  served  for  the  last  five  minutes,"  suggested  his  host  mildly. 

Favouring  him  with  a  melodramatic  scowl,  which,  at  Sadler's 
Wells  or  the  Victoria,  would,  in  theatrical  parlance,  have 
"  brought  down  the  house,"  Jack  exclaimed, — 

"  Is  it  thus  a  haughty  aristocracy  strives  to  trample  on  the  honest 
poor  man !  it  is  not  well  in  ye,  my  lord,  and  before  an  illustrious 
foreigner,  too !  alas,  my  country  !  "—then  perceiving  that  Guillemard 
was  regarding  him  with  a  glance  which  evinced  extreme  doubts  as  to 
his  sanity,  that  DAlmayne  was  looking  supercilious,  and  Lord  Alfred 
annoyed  at  his  absurdity.  Jack  experienced  the  proud  conviction  that 
he  had  attained  his  object — viz.  to  astonish,  confuse,  and  discomfit 
everybody.  Having  done  so,  he  dropped  the  heroic,  and  condescended 
to  make  himself  agreeable  after  the  fashion  of  ordinary  mortals, 
which,  as  he  was  really  clever  and  well-informed,  he  succeeded  in 
doing  to  a  degree  that,  in  great  measure,  efi'aced  his  previous  mis- 
conduct from  the  recollection  of  his  associates.  He  prefaced  his  re- 
formation, however,  by  contriving  to  seat  Guilleraa)"d  by  one  of  the 
boxing-gloved  napkins,  a  manoeuvre  which  elicited  from  that  per- 
plexed foreigner  the  exclamation,  "  Mais  que  diable !  vot  shall  zies 
be  ?"  and  a  reproving  "  Jack,  you  idiot,  how  can  you  !"  from  Lord 
Alfred,  who  was  equally  amused  and  scandalised  at  his  friend's 
absurdities.  But  a  Frenchman's  tact  is  seldom  long  at  fault ;  and 
by  the  time  Guillemard  had  extricated  the  boxing-glove  from  its 
envelope,  he  continued, — 

"  Ah,  je  comprends,  I  apprehend  !  Monsieur  Jacques  Pipbo  !  il  est 
gai.  il  estfarcevu-,  he  vos  play  vot  you  call  von  practicable  joke,  n'est- 
ce  pas,  Milor  ? — bien  comique  !  ver  fonney,  ha !  ha !  " 

So,  harmony  being  established,  they  ate,  drank,  and  were  merry  ; 
Champagne  Moselle,  Rhine  wines,  French  wines,  wines  with  names 
we  know  bvit  cannot  pronounce,  wines  with  names  we  do  not  know  and 
could  not  spell  if  we  did,  were  produced,  and  done  justice  to,  during 


AND  ALI.  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  217 

dinner  and  dessert ;  and  tlien  fhey  quietly  settled  down  to  claret  at 
80s.  the  dozen,  which  tasted  best,  as  they  agreed,  out  of  tumblers ; 
Friboursr's  finest  cigars  also  made  their  appearance  and  were  not 
neglected ;  and  for  some  time  these  four  lords  of  the  creation  enjoyed 
life  undisturbed.  But  Frenchmen  seldom  sit  long  over  their  wine. 
D'Almayne  had  too  many  schemes,  which  required  a  cool  head  to 
carry  them  out,  to  venture  to  inflame  his  brain  with  the  juice  of  the 
grape ;  and  by  ten  o'clock  Lord  Alfred  proposed  a  hand  at  piquet,  to 
while  away  an  hour  or  so,  until  it  should  be  time  to  adjourn  to  Lady 
Tattersall  Trottemout's  ball,  to  which  Mentor  and  his  pupil  were  in- 
vited ;  so  Guillemard  and  his  host  began  to  play.  Jack  Beaupeep  and 
his  companion  watching  them,  and  betting  half-crowns  on  the  vary- 
ing chances  of  the  game.  At  first,  fortune  seemed  inclined  to  be- 
friend Lord  Alfred,  for  he  won  three  times  consecutively  ;  and  Jack, 
who,  as  he  observed,  was  resolved  "  to  back  the  thoi'ough-bred  colt," 
realized  capital  to  the  amount  of  seven-and-sixpence. 

"  Ah  !  bah  !  Horace,  mon  cher  !  you  shall  bet  wis  me 'centre  moi- 
meme!'  I  cannot  play  for  a  so  little  stake,  he  does  not  agree  wis 
me !  "  exclaimed  Monsieur  Guillemard,  tossing  down  the  cards 
pettishly. 

"  Let  us  double  them,  Monsieur,"  began  Lord  Alfred  eagerly;  "  I 
was  just  going  to  propose  it  when  you  spoke;  nothing  is  more 
ennuyant  than  playing  for  inadequate  stakes." 

"  Mais  oui !  you  have  reason,  my  lord.  Horace,  mon  ami,  mix  me 
de  I'eau  sucr^e  wis  a  Ouinam  Laque  ice  in  him  ;  I  have  thirst ;  he 
makes  hot  this  evening." 

"Not  a  bad  idea,  only  I've  a  better  one,"  rejoined  Lord  Alfred; 
"  brew  some  sherry-cobbler.  Jack  ;  ring  the  bell,  and  order  the 
materials  :  it's  your  deal,  Monsieur  Guillemard." 

Sherry-cobbler  is  not  a  safe  thing  to  play  piquet  upon,  especially 
when  your  opponent  confines  himself  to  eau  sucree.  Lord  Alfred 
lost,  grew  excited,  doubled  the  stakes  again  and  lost,  trebled  them 
and  won,  then  played  on  recklessly  against  a  run  of  ill-luck,  until 
D'Almayne  interfered. 

"  It  is  twelve  o'clock,  Alfred,  mon  cher ;  we  shall  be  late  for  Lady 
Tatt.'s." 

" Lady  Tatt. !  "  was  the  uncomplimentary  reply  ;  "  I  shall  not 

go." 

D'Almayne  leaned  over  him,  and  observing  in  a  whisper,  "  You 
forget  la  belle  Alice  is  expecting  you,"  drew  the  cards  from  his 
reluctant  hand. 

Rising  siilkily.  Lord  Alfred  walked  with  a  slightly  unsteady  step 
to  a  writing-table,  took  pen  and  ink,  and  hastily  tracing  a  few  words, 
handed  the  paper  to  Monsieur  Guillemard — it  was  a  cheque  for 
■£500! 

"  Ring  for  the  broiigham,  D'Almayne,"  he  continued  ;  "Monsieur 
Guillemard,  you  must  give  me  my  revenge  at  an  early  opportunity; 
good-night,  Jack  ;  "  then  turning  away  with  a  laugh,  as  he  perceived 


218  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

that  youtliful  legislator,  wlio  had  "  gone  in "  for  sheiTy-cobbler 
rather  too  zealously,  fast  asleep  on  the  sofa,  he  retired  to  his  dressing- 
room  to  remove,  as  far  as  he  was  able,  the  outward  effects  of  wine  and 
excitement. 

As  he  quitted  the  apartment,  D'Almayne,  after  a  hasty  glance  at 
the  "  used  up  "  Jack,  drew  Guillemard  aside,  and  speaking  Fi-ench, 
said  in  an  eager  whisper,  "  You  are  much  too  precipitate,  and  will 
ruin  everything ;  what  could  persuade  you  to  win  so  large  a  sum  from 
him  at  one  sitting  ?  " 

"  Ton  conceive  it  that  I  am  too  impressed  !  Regarde  !  One  gave 
to  me  this  billet  at  the  dinner-table,"  was  the  reply. 

Hastily  snatching  it,  D'Almayne  read  as  follows : — 

" Street,  Eleven  p.m. 

"Prince  Ratrapski,  the  Russian  nobleman,  has  been  playing 
deeply;  has  had  a  run  of  unparalleled  luck  and  broken  the  bank; 
unless  you  can  come  by  ^BoOO  iiaimediately,  there  will  be  an  unpleasant 
exposure,  and  D'Almayne  and  yourself  will  be,  before  morning,  the 
tenants  of  a  debtor's  prison,  with 

"  Your  devoted, 

"  Le  Roux." 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

SOME   OF   THE    JOYS   OF   OUR   DANCING   DATS. 

Lady  Tattersall  Trottemout  lived  in  the  Brompton  and  Ken- 
sington region  and  knew  everybody.  Her  deceased  papa  had  walked 
into  Manchester  some  fifty  years  since,  with  a  good  head  on  his 
shoulders  and  fourpence-halfpenny  in  his  breeches-pocket.  Bein^ 
tired  with  his  walk,  he  sat  down  in  Manchester,  and  rested  there  for 
the  space  of  forty  years,  during  which  time,  by  a  process  peculiar  to 
that  city,  his  foiirpence-halfpenny  grew  into  an  hundred  and  forty 
thousand  pounds.  Unto  him  was  born,  in  lawful  wedlock,  one  only 
daughter,  the  subject  of  the  present  brief  memoir,  who,  on  his  retire- 
ment to  "  't  Oud  Churchyard  "  (as,  in  his  Lancashire  dialect,  he  was 
accustomed  to  denominate  his  final  resting-place  in  the  burial-ground 
of  the  Collegiate  Church),  inherited  the foiu-pence-half penny  and  its 
compound  interest ;  with  which,  when  her  mourning  for  her  father 
was  ended,  she  purchased  Sir  Tattersall  Trottemoiit.  This  noble 
baronet,  who  was  by  no  means  worth  the  price  she  gave  for  him,  had 
been  essentially  a  fast  man,  and  had  run  through  everything  he  could 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  219 

lay  his  "  blood-red  hand  "  upon — liis  own  fortune  and  tlie  fortunes  of 
several  of  liis  relations  included — and  wlien  they  were  all  gone  and 
spent,  he  ran  tkrough  his  reputation ;  which  last  "  rapid  act "  did  not 
take  him  long,  as  that  "  bubble  "  was  not  as  "  wide  as  a  church-door, 
nor  deep  as  a  draw-well,"  when  he  began  upon  it.  Tluis,  finding  him- 
self under  a  cloud  and  in  difficulties — the  only  things  he  had  yet  en- 
countered which  he  could  not  run  through  (the  good  old  days  of 
"  pinking "  one's  tailor  instead  of  paying  him  being  unfortunately 
past) — Sir  T.  T.  felt  that  his  time  was  come,  and  that  he  must  pre- 
pare his  mind  for  another — that  is,  a  man-ied — life.  So,  aetatis  forty- 
five,  he  went  into  dock,  dyed  his  hair  and  whiskers,  purchased  a  new 
set  of  teeth,  laid  in  a  stock  of  patent  leather  boots,  and  ran  down  to 
Manchester,  to  captivate  an  heiress.  The  respectable  owner  of  the  en- 
larged and  embellished  f ouri^ence-halfpenny  had,  at  that  epoch,  been 
about  one  year  under  the  turf  which  his  future  son-in-law  had  been 
on  for  above  twenty ;  and  his  orphan  daughter,  of  sweet  nineteen, 
was  immediately  smitten  and  wounded  by  the  aristocratic  appear- 
ance and  distinguished  manners  of  the  broken-down  titled  black- 
leg who  sought  her  .  .  .  fortune.  She,  being  then  a  simple-minded, 
honest  girl,  absurd  as  it  may  appear,  loved  the  creature  ;  and,  despite 
the  advice  of  several  kind-hearted,  strong-headed,  fearfully  vulgar  old 
men,  who  were  her  ti-ustees,  guardians,  legal  advisers,  &c.,  &c.  (police- 
men, so  to  speak,  appointed  by  the  lamented  deceased  to  prevent  his 
developed  fourpence-halfpenny  being  prematurely  reduced  to  its 
pristine  elements),  this  young  lady  vowed  she  would  marry  Sir 
Tattersall  Ti'ottemout — and  did  so.  But,  as  the  baronet's  talent 
for  running  through  any  amount  of  cash  was  rumoured  even  at  Man- 
chester, the  ancient  policemen  tied  up  the  fourpence-halfpenny 
so  tightly  that  nobody  could  manufacture  ducks  and  drakes  with  it 
— not  even  Sir  Tatt.  Trott. ;  so,  after  a  few  abortive  attempts,  that 
ornament  to  his  order  gave  up  his  evil  courses,  and  settled  down 
quietly  on  cigars,  brandy  and  water,  and  whist  with  half-crown  points 
—a  notable  example  of  the  reformatory  powers  of  matrimony.  His 
lady-wife  went  through  the  usual  agreeable  process  of  awaking 
from  "  Love's  young  dream,"  and  discovering  that,  after  the  manner 
of  Caliban,  she  had  in  her  simplicity, 

"  Made  a  wonder  of  a  poor  drunkard," 

she,  like  a  sensible  woman,  resolved  to  put  up  with  her  bad  bargain, 
keep  her  husband  in  respectable  order,  and  create  or  discover  some 
fresh  interest  in  life  for  herself.  In  accordance  with  this  determina- 
tion, she  restricted  the  marital  cigars  and  brandy  and  water  to 
certain  definite  limits  ;  tested  several  phases  of  London  society ;  and 
then  took  her  line,  and  chose  her  associates  accordingly.  Being  an 
intellectual  woman,  and  having  literary  taste  up  to  a  certain  point, 
she  affected  the  society  of  artists  of  all  classes,  and  in  every  depart- 
ment of  art.  Thus,  at  her  soirt5es.  you  might  meet  literary  men  of 
various  species :  historians,  novelists,  journalists,  critics,  "  et  hoc 


220  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

genus  omne ; "  paintei's,  sculptors,  musicians ;  the  leading  actors  of 
tlie  day,  male  and  female, — in  fact,  all  the  celebrities  whom  the 
London  season  delij^hteth  to  honour.  But,  knowing  that  talent 
requii-es  an  intelligent  audience.  Lady  Tattersall  Trottemout 
associated  a  certain  proportion  of  the  "  profanum  vulgus  "  to  worship 
her  collected  divinities.  Her  parties,  therefore,  soon  became  noted 
as  the  most  agreeable  of  their  kind  ;  and  to  one  of  these  meetings,  in 
which  dancing  was  to  be  the  chief  feature  of  the  evening,  were  our 
friends  in  Park  Lane  invited.  Harry  had  promised  Alice  that,  if  it 
were  possible,  he  would  return  to  escort  her  to  this  notable  gather- 
ing ;  however,  on  the  aj^pointed  evening,  ten  o'clock  arrived,  but  no 
Coverdale.  Alice  was  rather  frightened  and  considerably  annoyed, 
but  Kate  persuaded  her  that  there  was  no  just  cause  for  alarm  ;  and 
so,  leaving  a  note  for  Harry,  begging  him  to  join  them,  if  he  should 
arrive  in  time  to  make  it  worth  while  to  do  so,  they  proceeded  to  the 
"  spacious  mansion  "  of  Lady  Tattersall  Trottemout. 

For  some  time,  little  Mrs.  Coverdale  was  sufficiently  amused  by 
observing  the  appearance,  manners,  and  customs  of  the  various 
notabilities,  as  they  were  pointed  out  to  her  by  no  less  a  personage 
than  her  hostess,  who,  attracted  by  the  simple  beauty  of  her  new 
acquaintance,  and  the  evident  pleasure  and  interest  she  took  in  all 
that  was  going  on  around  her,  actually  devoted  to  her  ten  minutes  of 
the  valuable  time  in  which,  on  such  occasions,  a  clever  mistress  of 
the  house  is  expected,  and  actually  contrives,  to  say  and  do  some- 
thing civil  to  an  hundred  and  fifty  human  beings,  all  prepared  to 
magnify  any  accidental  neglect  into  an  intended  slight,  and  to  resent 
it  accordingly.  But,  ere  ten  minutes  had  well  elapsed,  an  illustrious 
stranger  arrived,  who  was  so  intensely  foreign  that  he  could  not  be 
prevailed  upon  to  speak  or  understand  any  language  of  which  the 
deepest  philologists  present  were  able  to  make  head  or  tail,  and  who, 
in  his  consequent  bewilderment,  had  seated  himself  on  the  music- 
stool,  with  his  back  towards  the  key-board  of  the  pianoforte — there- 
by establishing  a  complete  blockade  of  that  harmonious  and  indis- 
pensa.ble  instrument,  which  no  representations  in  French,  German, 
or  Italian  could  induce  him  to  relinquish :  so  a  breathless  female 
aide-de-camp,  in  flaxen  ringlets  and  white  muslin,  hurried  up  to 
report  this  frightful  dilemma  to  the  commandress-in-chief ,  who,  with 
the  greatest  presence  of  mind,  dispatched  her  to  summon  Count 
Cacklewitz,  the  young  Hungarian  patriot,  who,  it  was  generally 
believed,  could  speak  everything,  even  his  own  langiiage,  and  then 
hastened  in  person  to  raise  the  siege  of  the  pianoforte.  Alice,  thus 
deserted,  fell  into  the  hands  of  a  tall,  gaunt,  blue  woman,  rejoicing 
in  a  red  nose  and  a  long  fluent  tongue,  who  began  to  talk  high  art 
to  her,  and  confused  her  about  transcendentalism  and  Carlyle, — the 
Oxford  Graduate  (viz.  Turner's  single  and  singular  disciple, 
wonderful  Mr.  Ruskin),  and  pre-Raphaelism, — the  meaning  of 
Tennyson,  when  he  condescends  to  be  obscure  (for  he  can  write  real 
poetry,  which  "he  who  runs  may  read"  and  feel), — and  of  the  dark 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  221 

Brownings,  and  Macaulay  and  the  romance  of  histoiy,  and  many 
other  hackneyed  psendo-literary  topics  of  the  day,  until  our  unlucky 
little  heroine  lapsed  into  that  state  of  mental  incapacity  usually 
described  as  not  knowing  whether  one  is  standing  on  one's  head  or 
one's  heels.  Then  began  vocal  music,  which  mercifully  silenced 
Alice's  strong-minded  persecutor;  and  a  rather  raffish  baritone 
gentleman,  who  wanted  shearing  dreadfully,  and  was  all  voice,  eyes, 
and  feathers,  like  a  lean  bird,  accosted  a  singularly  hard-featured, 
middle-aged  German  lady,  as  "  Oh  !  thou  beloved  one  !  "  to  which  she 
made  an  appropriately  tender  soprano  reply;  and  the  company 
listened  with  much  forbearance,  for  quite  ten  minutes,  to  the  united 
aifections  of  this  interesting  couple,  detailed  to  an  accompaniment 
now  rapturous,  now  pathetic,  at  the  end  of  which  period  they  both 
suddenly  exalted  their  voices,  bellowed  their  love  at  each  other  in 
one  final  outburst  of  sympathetic  insanity,  and  subsided  into  a 
refreshing  silence.  Then  a  young  lady  in  a  i)ink  sash  informed  the 
company  that  her  brain  was  on  fire,  her  heart  consuming,  and  her 
digestive  organs  generally  in  a  state  of  spontaneous  combustion, 
because  her  fatherland  writhed  in  the  grasp  of  tyrants — "  tra  la,  tra 
lira  la !  " — which  unpleasant  state  of  affairs  was  much  applauded  by 
hairy  exiles,  with  microscopic  washing  bills,  which  they  never  paid, 
and  a  monomania  in  regard  to  freedom,  which  they  never  obtained, 
but  which  had  kept  them  in  hot  water  (the  only  water  they  patron- 
ized) from  their  youth  upwards.  Lastly,  a  very  mild  young  gentle- 
man of  England  excited  himself  about  some  "  Rivar  !  rivar  !  shining 
rivar !  "  into  which  pellucid  stream  he  kept  putting  his  foot  "  deeper 
and  deeper  still,"  until  every  one  was  so  son'y  for  him,  that  the  whole 
party  appeared  on  the  verge  of  hysterics,  and  were  forced  to  conceal 
their  emotion  behind  fans,  flounced  pocket  handkerchiefs,  and  white- 
gloved  hands.  Then  the  votai-ies  of  Terpsichore  stood  at  ease  upon 
their  light  fantastic  toes  (except  in  the  cases  of  tightly-shod 
martyrs),  and  polking  was  the  order  of  the  night — at  which  period 
Alice  looked  about  and  wondered  what  had  become  of  Lord  Alfred 
Courtland,  who  had  said  a  great  deal  on  the  subject  of  the  delight  he 
expected  in  dancing  with  her,  and  had  engaged  her  hand  for  the  first 
polka. 

Now,  whether  any  strictly  moral  reader,  with  that  bad  opinion  of 
poor  human  natiire  which  very  strict  morality  usually  induces,  has 
decided  that  "  every  woman  is  at  heart  a  rake,"  and  believed  our 
little  heroine  about  to  prove  herself  a  "  dreadful  creature,"  and 
transfer  her  affections  from  her  lawful  husband  to  her  unlawful 
admirer,  we  do  not  know ;  but  if  any  reader  has  set  his  (or  her)  heart 
on  such  a  consummation,  we  are  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  inform  him 
that  he  is  mistaken.  Alice  considered  Lord  Alfred  a  good-natured, 
agreeable  boy,  whose  conversation  served  to  amuse  her,  and  to 
whose  society  she  had  become  accustomed ;  she  would  a  thousand 
times  rather  have  talked  to  Harry  at  any  time,  but  Harry  was  not 
always  attainable— indeed,  the  chaaices  were  generally  against  her 


222  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

seeing  anything  of  him  from  breakfast  till  dinner-time,  and  then 
Lord  Alfred  became  a  very  good  and  safe  substitute. 

But  the  first  polka  was  over,  and  a  "  valse  a  deux  temps  "  followed 
it,  neither  of  which  Alice  danced,  and  still  no  Harry,  no  Lord  Alfred 
appeared;  and  in  despair  she  was  obliged  to  say  yes  to  a  heavy 
cornet  in  the  Life  Guards,  who  was  big  enough  to  eat  her,  and 
polked  like  a  polite  young  elephant.  Glad  to  escape  without  being 
squeezed  to  death  or  trampled  under  foot  by  this  ponderous  young 
warrior,  Alice  had  just  found  a  seat  when  D'Almayne  and  Lord 
Alfred  lounged  in ;  the  latter  immediately  joined  her,  and  claimed 
her  promise  to  dance  with  him  ;  but  Alice  was  tii-ed  and  bored,  and 
feeling  that  it  was  in  some  degi'ee  owing  to  him  that  she  had  become 
so,  and  that  he  ought  to  have  been  there  sooner,  she  replied  coldly,— 

"  I  promised  to  reserve  the  first  dance  for  you,  my  lord,  but  the 
first  dance  has  been  over  some  time,  and  several  others  have 
followed  ;  I  do  not  feel  disposed  to  dance  at  present." 

Of  course.  Lord  Alfred  endeavoured  to  excuse  himself,  and  when 
Alice  declined  dancing,  said,  "  Very  well,  then  he  should  sit  still  too 
— all  the  night,  if  she  pleased,  for  he  certainly  should  not  dance  with 
any  one  else."  So,  after  she  had  teased  him  until  he  very  nearly  lost 
the  little  good  temper  which  the  events  of  the  earlier  part  of  the 
evening  had  left  him,  she  took  compassion  on  bim,  and  danced  with 
him  twice  consecutively ;  but  when  he  urged  her  to  do  so  a  third 
time  she  refused ;  and  on  his  pressing  her,  told  him  plainly  that,  as 
her  husband  was  away,  she  felt  bound  to  be  more  than  usually 
particular,  and  that  it  was  not  etiquette  to  dance  the  whole  evening 
with  one  gentleman ;  at  which  rebuff  his  lordship  was  pleased  to 
take  offence,  and  leading  her  to  a  seat,  he  bowed  and  left  her. 
Desei-ted  by  his  lady-love,  and  swindled  out  of  his  money  by  his 
pseudo-friends,  this  victimised  young  nobleman  looked  about  for 
his  protector  and  adviser — at  once  patron  and  parasite — Horace 
D'Almayne,  but  for  some  time  without  success ;  when  at  length  he 
did  discover  him,  he  was  engaged  in  siTch  an  eaimest  private  conver- 
sation with  some  gentleman  unknown,  that  Lord  Alfred  felt  it  would 
be  ill-bred  to  interrupt  them  ;  accordingly,  he  lounged  through  the 
rooms,  resisting  several  inti-oductions  to  "  great  heiresses "  and 
"  loveliest  girls  in  London,"  all  declared  to  be  dying  to  dance  with 
Mm,  wandered  listlessly  into  the  refreshment-room,  drank  a 
tumbler  of  champagne  and  soda-water,  and  was  thinking  seriously  of 
turning  sulky  and  going  home  to  bed,  when  D'Almayne  seized  him 
by  the  arm,  exclaiming, — 

"  Alfred,  mon  cher,  where  bave  you  hidden  yourself  ?  I've  been 
hunting  for  you  for  the  last  half -hour.  Why  have  you  left  la  belle 
Coverdale  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  that  is  good !  looking  for  me,  indeed,  when  I  passed  you 
twice  close  enough  almost  to  brush  against  your  elbow,  and  you 
never  even  saw  me,  so  engrossed  were  you  plotting  treason  with  some 
party  unknown,"  was  the  captious  reply. 


AND  AI.L  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  223 

"  Unpfratef 111 !  when  it  was  for  your  interest  I  was  exerting  myself," 
returned  D'Almayne  i-eproaclif ully ;  "  but  you  do  not  explain  why 
you  have  quitted  la  belle  Alice  ;  you  really  are  not  sufficiently  atten- 
tive ;  no  pretty  woman  likes  to  be  neglected." 

"  She's  a  little  fickle,  heartless  coquette,  and  I'll  let  her  see  that  I'm 
not  so  completely  her  slave  as  she  appears  to  imagine,"  answered 
Lord  Alfred  snappishly,  at  the  same  time  filling  his  glass  with  cham- 
pagne ;  "  she  refused  to  dance  with  me  more  than  twice  because  it 
was  not  etiquette,  and  she  wished  to  be  extra  particular  because  her 
husband  was  not  here.  I  don't  think  he'd  overwhelm  her  with  his 
attentions  if  he  were,  unless  he  means  to  alter  very  much.  No  :  the 
fact  is,  she  is  out  of  humour,  and  chooses  to  vent  it  on  me ;  it  would 
just  serve  her  right  if  I  were  to  go  home  and  leave  her  to  her  own 
devices." 

"  Do  nothing  of  the  kind, '  mon  cher,'  but  listen  to  me,  and — excuse 
me,  but  don't  drink  any  more  champagne,  or  you'll  do  something 
absurd ;  your  comic  friend  brewed  that  sherry-cobbler  too  strong. 
Go  quietly  back  to  the  Coverdale  ;  try  and  persuade  her  to  dance,  but 
if  she  refuses,  show  no  annoyance,  and  get  her  to  allude  again  to  her 
husband:  then  carelessly  and  incidentally,  as  if  you  had  no  design 
in  what  you  were  saying,  suggest  that  she  would  scarcely  be  so  par- 
ticular, if  she  knew  what  a  naughty  boy  he  had  been  in  Italy,  and 
having  excited  her  curiosity,  tell  her  the  following  little  anecdote." 

As  a  bevy  of  men  entered  the  refreshment-room  at  that  moment, 
D'Almayne,  linking  his  arm  with  that  of  Lord  Alfred,  led  him  aside, 
and  made  to  him  a  communication,  the  nature  of  which  will  appear 
in  the  due  course  of  this  history.  Lord  Alfred  seemed  surprised,  and, 
to  his  credit  be  it  spoken,  even  pained,  by  the  information  thus 
afforded  him;  and  when  D'Almayne  had  conckided,  his  auditor 
remained  a  minute  or  so  buried  in  thought,  then  he  asked 
abruptly, — 

"  Tou  are  sure  there  is  still  some  clandestine  understanding- 
between  them — you  are  quite  certain  ?  " 

"  I  am  as  certain  as  a  man  can  be  of  any  clandestine  proceeding  to 
which  he  is  not  a  party,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  you  are  aware  of  what  I 
observed  on  the  occasion  of  the  Hoi-ticultural  Fete.  I  now  relate  to 
you  the  antecedents  ;  you  are  no  longer  a  child,  but.sufficiently  a  man 
of  the  world  to  draw  your  own  deductions." 

The  adroit  flattery  .on  the  weak  point  told :  faith  in  truth  and 
honour  would  argue  a  want  of  knowledge  of  life ;  so  with  a  slight 
laugh,  assumptive  of  an  omniscience  in  evil,  he  replied,  "  I  was  willing 
to  give  him  the  benefit  of  a  doubt,  if  it  were  possible ;  but,  as  you  say, 
the  thing  is  clear  enough ;  and  now,  how  is  this  to  advantage  me  ?  " 

"  Do  you  ask  ?  "  was  the  surprised  rejoinder;  "  I  thought  you  told 
me  just  now  that  the  cruel  fair  one  had  snubbed  you  by  throwing  her 
duty  to  her  husband  at  your  head ;  so  it  occurred  to  my  simplicity 
that  this  information,  properly  applied,  would  prevent  a  recurrence 
of  such  rebuff." 


224  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  But  surely  you  would  never  have  me  tell  her,  and  her  o^vn  husband 
the  hero  of  the  adventure  !  "  expostulated  Lord  Alfred. 

"  Listen, '  mon  cher,'  one  moment,"  was  D'Almayne's  reply,  spoken 
in  a  low,  impressive  voice ;  "  I  do  not  wish  you  to  follow  any  particular 
line  of  conduct ;  I  have  no  interest  to  serve,  no  desire  to  gratify,  by 
your  doing  or  abstaining  fi'om  anything  ;  but  when  you  tell  me  you 
desire  to  gain  such  and  such  a  social  position,  and  ask  my  advice  as  to 
the  best  way  of  attaining  your  wishes,  I,  as  youi-  friend,  point  out  the 
means  to  you — it  is  for  you  to  judge  whether  they  are  such  as  you 
choose  to  emi^loy.  You  must  now  excuse  me :  I  see  some  old  acquaint- 
ances of  mine,  to  whose  memory  I  am  anxious  to  I'ecall  myself." 

"  Then  you  really  advise  me  to  tell  her !  "  exclaimed  Lord  Alfred, 
seizing  D'Almayne's  arm  in  his  eagerness  and  indecision, 

"  I  really  advise  nothing  of  the  kind,  mon  cher,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  I 
have  already  cautioned  you  against  that  abrupt  plain-speaking  of 
yours ;  you  should  divest  yourself  of  that  rustic  habit.  You  could 
scarcely  sin  more  deeply  against  good  taste  and  good  breeding  than 
to  go  to '  la  belle  Coverdale,'  and  bring  a  railing  accusation  against  her 
husband,  nor  could  you  divine  a  plan  more  certain  to  frustrate  your 
hopes  and  wishes  :  but  if,  grieving  over  her  misplaced  confidence,  you 
philanthropically  incline  to  hint  to  her  that  he  is  scarcely  the  im- 
maculate ascetic  Ver  imagination  depicts, '  c'est  tout  autre  chose  ! '  and 
now  you  must  excuse  me  ;  "  and  as  he  spoke,  he  gently  freed  his  coat- 
sleeve  from  Lord  Alfred's  grasp,  and  regarding  him  with  a  half- 
sarcastic,  half -compassionate,  but  wholly  irritating  smile,  he  turned 
and  quitted  the  spot. 

Thus  left  to  his  own  reflections,  which  were  none  of  the  most  agree- 
able. Lord  Alf x-ed  paused  for  a  few  moments  in  indecision ;  then,  with 
a  hand  tremulous  from  excitement,  again  replenished  his  glass, 
tossed  down  the  champagne,  and  returned  to  the  dancing-room. 

During  her  admirer's  absence,  Alice  had,  for  want  of  some  more 
interesting  occupation,  been  conversing  with  Arabella  Crof  ton,  using 
all  her  skill  to  try  to  elicit  some  particulars  of  her  acquaintance  with 
Harry  in  Italy,  in  which  endeavour  she  had  been  most  adroitly  foiled 
by  the  quiet  self-possession  of  the  ci-devant  governess,  who  told  her 
most  readily  all  she  did  not  care  to  learn  and  nothing  that  she  did. 
As  Lord  Alfred  approached,  an  individual  was  introduced  to  Miss 
Crof  ton,  who  desired  the  honour  of  her  hand  for  the  next  polka,  which 
desire  that  young  lady  obligingly  gratified,  thus  affording  his  lord- 
ship an  opportunity  of  seating  himself  by  Alice,  of  which  he  instantly 
availed  himself. 

"  It  is  never  right  to  believe  in  a  fair  lady's  nay,"  he  began,  "  so  I 
have  returned  to  afford  you  an  opportunity  of  confessing  your  change 
of  mind  with  a  good  grace ;  come,  they  are  just  going  to  begin  a  new 
polka,  let  us  take  our  places." 

"  If  ladies  do  always  change  their  minds,  I  am  going  to  be  the 
interesting  exception  which  proves  the  rule,"  was  Alice's  reply. 

"How  provokingly  and  unnaturally  obstinate  you  are  to-night. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  225 

Mrs.  Covevdale !  You  pretend  to  be  fond  of  dancing,  and  yet,  because 
I  ask  you,  you  resolve  to  sit  still !  " 

"  I  have  already  told  you  my  reason,"  rejoined  Alice ;  "  in  Mr. 
Coverdale's  absence  I  do  not  clioose  to  dance  the  whole  evening  with 
any  one  gentleman." 

"  What  a  pattern  wife  you  are  ! "'  was  the  reply ;  "  you  give  up  your 
own  amusement,  and  destroy  all  my  pleasure,  out  of  regard  for  the 
ghost  of  a  scruple,  which  I  dare  say  has  never  entei'ed  Mr.  Cover- 
dale's  brain ;  really,  the  patient  Griselda  was  nothing  coniijared  to 
you." 

Alice  was  annoyed  by  his  pertinacity,  and,  considering  this  speech 
impertinent,  was  about  to  repeat  her  refusal  in  terms  which  would 
have  enlightened  his  lordship  vei'y  considerably  on  these  i^oints,  when 
it  flashed  across  her  that  he  might  have  taken  rather  too  much  cham- 
pagne ;  and  the  idea  having  occurred  to  her,  his  flushed  face  and 
excited  manner  confirmed  it.  Having  sufficient  liking  for  him  to 
wish  to  prevent  him  from  making  himself  ridiculous,  she  good- 
naturedly  resolved  to  engross  his  conversation  herself,  and,  awai'e  of 
what  she  conceived  to  be  the  true  state  of  the  case,  not  to  take  ofilence 
at  anything  he  might  say,  intending  to  read  him  a  lecture  on  the 
following  day.     In  accordance  with  this  resolution  she  replied, — 

"  I  consider  it  a  great  compliment  to  be  compared  to  the  patient 
Grisel,  more  particularly  as  I  was  not  of  opinion  that  she  and  I 
had  very  many  qualities  in  common.  By  the  way,"  she  continued, 
seeking  to  change  the  subject,  and  taking  the  first  idea  that  occui-red 
to  her,  "  what  do  you  think  of  the  lady  whose  chair  you  are  occupy- 
ing ?    I  have  never  asked  your  opinion  of  Miss  Arabella  Crofton." 

The  question  was  a  most  imfortunate  one.  Alice's  continued 
refusal  to  dance  with  him  had  annoyed  Lord  Alfred,  and  wounded  his 
vanity  ;  the  reason  of  her  refusal  was  her  absurd  devotion  (as  he  con- 
sidered it)  to  her  husband ;  and  now  she,  as  it  were,  held  the  cup  of 
revenge  to  his  lips  by  the  question  she  had  asked  him.  Up  to 
this  point  his  better  nature  had  struggled  with  the  temptation 
successfully,  but  now  it  had  acquired  an  additional  strength,  and 
overcame  him. 

"  I  wonder  you  should  care  to  know  my  ideas  on  the  subject,"  he 
said  ;  and  as  he  proceeded  to  work  out  Horace  D'Almayne's  sugges- 
tions, his  tone  and  manner  unconsciously  assumed  a  resemblance  to 
that  excellent  young  man's  sarcastic  and  suggestive  delivery  :  "  Miss 
Ci'ofton  is  merely  a  recent  and  very  slight  acquaintance  of  mine ;  you 
should  apply  to  Mr.  Coverdale — he  could  tell  you  many  much  more  in- 
teresting i^articulars  of  her  history  than  I  am  able  to  communicate, 
if  he  were  willing  to  do  so." 

All  temptations  to  do  things  foolish  or  wrong  ai*e  orthodoxly 
supposed  to  come  from  the  Prince  of  Darkness  ;  if  it  be  so,  the  fact 
speaks  very  highly  for  the  intellectual  capacity  of  that  sable 
potentate,  as  the  said  temptations  invariably  adapt  themselves  in  a 
most  wonderful  manner    to  the    various    weaknesses    and   incon- 

Q 


22G  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

sistencies  of  our  nature.  Thus,  as  Alice's  speech  had,  unintention- 
ally on  her  part,  appealed  to  Lord  Alfred's  leading  foible — vanity, 
so,  in  turn,  did  his  reply  re-act  upon  Alice's  vulnerable  points— 
j  ealousy  of  Arabella  Crofton,  and  consequent  curiosity  as  to  her 
former  relations  with  Harry  Coverdale.  Accordingly,  forgetting 
time,  place,  proprieties,  even  her  doubt  in  regard  to  the  perfect 
sobriety  of  the  person  she  was  addressing,  in  the  overpowering 
interest  of  the  question,  she  asked,  hurriedly, — 

"  Why  do  you  say  that  ?  to  what  do  you  refer  ?  has  Mr.  Coverdale 
ever  told  you  anything  on  the  subject  ?  " 

Lord  Alfred  smiled  at  the  effect  which  his  hint  had  produced ; 
though,  when  he  marked  his  victim's  eager  eye  and  trembling  lip, 
his  good  feeling  made  one  last  appeal,  and  he  half  resolved  to  leave 
D'Almayne's  communication  untold.  Had  he  been  completely 
himself,  the  good  resolution  would  have  been  formed  and  adhered 
to ;  but  he  had  "  put  an  enemy  into  his  mouth  to  steal  away  his 
brains."  and  was  no  longer  able  to  control  his  impulses ;  so,  by  an 
effort,  he  silenced  the  voice  of  conscience,  and  replied, — 

'"  I  shall  break  no  confidence  by  telling  you  why  I  supposed  Mr. 
Coverdale  better  '  up  '  in  Miss  Crof ton's  previous  history  than  I  am, 
for  he  never  mentioned  her  name  in  my  presence ;  indeed,  now 
I  come  to  think  of  it,  it  is  a  subject  he  always  studiously  avoids ;  but 
my  information  relates  to  certain  romantic  passages  said  to  have 
occiuTed  in  Italy." 

"  In  Italy !  "  exclaimed  Alice,  aghast  at  this  apparent  realization 
of  all  her  vague  fears  and  suspicions.  "  Go  on,"  she  continued, 
impatiently ;  "  I  can  listen  to  no  hints  aspersing  my  husband's 
character  ;  if  yoi;  have  anything  to  say  against  him,  do  not  insinuate 
it,  but  speak  out  plainly  and  honestly." 

"  Really,  you  mistake  me,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  I  have  no  accusation 
to  bring  against  Mr.  Coverdale :  but  your  question  recalled  to  my 
mind  an  anecdote  which  I  heard  lately,  and  I  was  amused  at  your 
requiring  infomiation  from  me  which  yoxir  own  husband  was  so 
much  better  able  to  afford." 

"  And  what  was  this  remarkable  anecdote  ?  Pray  let  me  have  the 
benefit  of  hearing  it,  my  lord,"  rejoined  Alice,  in  vain  trying  to  look 
and  speak  in  an  unconcerned  manner. 

"  Really  I  think  I  had  better  not  tell  you  ;  yoii  ladies  are  apt  to  be 
a  little  jealous  sometimes  without  i-easonable  cause.  '  Where 
ignorance  is  bliss,'  you  know — "  He  paused  with  a  tantalizing 
smile,  then  seeing  from  Alice's  manner  that  she  was  not  in  a 
humour  to  be  trifled  with,  he  continued — "  Well,  I  see  you  mean  to 
hear  it,  so  I  may  as  well  tell  you  at  once — not  that  there  is  anything 
very  wonderful  to  tell.  You  must  know  that,  some  three  or  four 
years  ago,  Miss  Crofton,  being  then  younger  and  handsomer  than 
she  is  now  (she  is  not  my  style,  but  many  people  consider  her  vastly 
attractive  still),  was  living  as  governess  with  a  family  of  the  name  of 
Muir,  and  in  that  capacity  accompanied  them  to  Florence.    John 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  227 

Muir,  the  eldest  son,  was  an  old  college  friend  of  Mr.  Coverdale's, 
and  meeting  by  chance  in  Switzerland,  they  joined  forces,  and  spent 
two  or  three  months  at  Florence,  making  occasional  excursions  into 
the  adjoining  country.     Everything  progressed   with  cheerfulness 
and  serenity  in  this  Italian  Arcadia,  until  one  fine  day  the  eldest 
Miss  Muir  eloped  with  an  individual  who  represented  himself  as  a 
Neapolitan  count,  and  proved  to  be  mei'ely  either  valet  or  courier  to 
the  same.    This  broke  up  the  party,  and  Mr.  Coverdale  took  his 
leave ;  but  scarcely  had  he  been  gone  twelve  hours,  when,  lo  and 
behold.  Miss  Crofton,  who  had  been  much  blamed  for  not  having 
looked  after  the  eloped-with  young  lady  more  closely  (I  suppose  she 
was  looking  after    somebody  else),  suddenly   disappeared.    After 
hunting  about  Florence  in  vain,   Pater  Familias   Muir  somehow 
obtained  a   clue  to  the  lady's  whereabouts,  following    which    he 
reached  a  village  some  thirty  miles  distant,  where  he  discovered 
Miss  Crofton,  and,  if  my  informant  did  not  err,  Mr.  Coverdale  also. 
Whether  it  had  been  his  intention  to  place  her  in  that  position  now 
so  much  more  worthily  filled,  or  whether  he  proposed  an  arrange- 
ment of  a  less  permanent  character,  history  telleth  not ;  suffice  it  to 
add,  as  the  books  say,  that  the  eloquent  representations  of  Pater 
Muir  induced  the  lady  to  return  with  him  to  Florence,  whence  he 
instantly  despatched  her  to  England  under  some  safe  escort,  while 
Mr.  Coverdale  pursued  his  onward  course  to  Turkey  and  the  East." 
He  paused,  but  as  Alice  made  no  reply,  merely  concealing  her 
countenance  behind  a  voluminous  fan,   somewhat  smaller  than  a 
peacock's  expanded  tail,  he  continued—"  Such  was  the  historiette 
related  to  me  ;  but  scandal-mongers  are  so  given  to  exaggerate,  that 
I  dare  say  it  is  not  half  true,  so  do  not  wori-y  yourself  about  it,  my 
dear  Mrs.  Coverdale." 

This  consolatory  codicil  was  added  because  his  lordship  heard,  or 
fancied  he  heard,  a  sound  analogous  to  a  repressed  sob  proceed  from 
behind  the  fan,  and  this  pseudo-profligate  young  nobleman  carried  a 
very  tender  heart  under  his  embroidei'ed  waistcoat. 

On  receiving  this  confirmation  of  her  worst,  nay,  more  than  her 
worst,  fears,  Alice's  first  impulse  was  to  give  way  to  a  flood  of  tears 
— an  impulse  so  strong  that,  unable  entirely  to  check  it,  the  sob 
which  Lord  Alfred  had  partially  overheard  was  the  result.  The 
story  chimed  in  with  her  jealous  suspicions  so  exactly,  that  it  never 
for  a  moment  occuired  to  her  to  question  the  truth  of  it ;  on  the 
contrary,  it  would  have  required  the  clearest  evidence  of  its  false- 
hood to  make  her  disbelieve  it.  Having  by  a  gi-eat  effort  repressed 
her  tears,  her  next  impulse  was  to  prevent  any  one,  especially  Lord 
Alfred,  from  perceiving  how  deeply  his  intelligence  had  affected  her. 
Accordingly  she  turned  to  him,  and  replied  in  as  careless  a  tone  as 
she  could  summon, — 

"  A  very  pi*etty  bit  of  scandal,  truly ;  and,  as  you  say,  worth  as 
miich,  or  as  little  rather,  as  scandal  visually  is ;  however,  the  tale 
has  served  to  amuse  me  and  put  me  in  a  good  humour ;  so,  as  you 


228  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

seem  to  liave  set  your  heart  upon  another  dance,  I  suppose  I  must 
exercise  my  woman's  privilege  in  your  favour,  and  change  my  mind. 
They  are  going  to  waltz — shall  we  begin  ?  " 

Surprised  and  delighted  at  the  success  of  his  experiment,  and 
almost  inclined  to  attribute  supernatural  wisdom  to  Horace 
D'Almayne,  Lord  Alfred  hastily  offei'ed  his  arm  to  his  enslaver,  and 
in  another  minute  they  were  whirling  round  the  room  in  all  the 
giddy  excitement  of  a  rapid  waltz.  While  the  dance  was  still  pro- 
ceeding, a  tall,  striking-looking  man  entered  the  room,  and  shading 
his  eyes  from  the  unaccustomed  brilliancy  of  the  lights,  carefully 
scrutinized  the  dancers,  until  his  glance  fell  upon  the  figures  of 
Alice  and  Lord  Alfred,  when  a  shade  came  over  his  handsome 
features,  and  leaning  his  shoulder  against  the  side  of  a  dooinvay,  he 
remained  with  his  eyes  tracking  the  evolutions  of  two  of  the  figures 
glancing  before  him.  After  he  had  remained  motionless  for  some 
minutes,  absorbed  in  his  own  thoughts,  which  were,  apparently,  of 
no  over-pleasant  nature,  a  gentle  touch  on  the  arm  aroused  him, 
and,  looking  roimd,  he  perceived  Arabella  Crofton.  She  was  about 
to  address  him,  but  by  a  warning  gestm*e  he  silenced  her,  and  she 
remained  standing  silently  beside  him  until,  in  a  low,  stern  voice,  he 
asked  abruptly, — 

"  How  often  has  she  been  dancing  with  him  ?  " 

"  Three  times,  I  believe ;  but  I  assure  you — " 

"  Hush  ! "  continued  Coverdale  in  the  same  stei'n,  impressive  voice, 
which  was  just  above  a  whisper ;  "  I  want  facts,  not  comments.  Has 
she  danced  with  any  one  else  since  he  has  been  here  ?  " 

"  Not  that  I  am  aware  of,"  was  the  reply.  "  She  danced  with  a 
young  guardsman  before  he  came." 

"  And  since  ?  " 

"  They  have  been  either  dancing  or  talking  together,  except  for 
about  ten  minutes,  din*ing  the  last  two  hours." 

Coverdale  made  no  reply,  biit  his  lips  became  more  sternly 
compressed,  and  the  shade  on  his  brow  grew  deei^er,  until  the  dance 
concluded,  then  muttering, — 

"  This  must  not  go  on :  I  shall  make  her  come  away  " — he  strode 
across  the  room  to  where  (her  late  partner  bending  gracefully  over 
her,  and  talking  about  nothing  with  the  deepest  empressement)  his 
wife  was  seated. 


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AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  229 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

ARABELLA. 

On  percei\'inpr  her  hnsband,  Alice  started,  and,  between  surprise 
and  anger,  her  cheeks  assumed  a  hue  more  resemblin^f  that  violent 
and  unsentimental  flower  the  {jeony.  than  the  blush-rose,  to  the  use 
of  which  our  minor  poets  are  bo  strongly  addicted.  Tliis  blush, 
which,  with  all  his  trust  in  and  affection  for  his  wife.  Hairy  could 
scarcely  fail  to  misinterpret,  did  not  tend  to  impart  any  great  degree 
of  cordiality  to  his  manner,  as  he  thus  accosted  her  : — 

'*  I  scarcely  expected  to  find  you  still  here,  so  late  as  it  is ;  but  I 
only  reached  Park  Lane  within  the  last  half-hour.  There  had  been 
an  accident  on  the  line,  and  our  train  wiis  delayed  between  two  and 
three  hours.  You  look  flushed  and  tired.  You've  Ijeen  tempting 
her  to  dance  too  much,  I'm  afraid,  Courtland.  I  saw  the  carriage 
waiting  as  I  came  in.  I  should  think  you  must  have  had  enough  of 
this  nonsense,  Alice!  What  say  you  to  coming  away?  I've  lots  of 
news  to  tell  you  from  home." 

"  I'm  afraid  your  budget  must  wait  a  little  longer.  I'm  engaged 
to  Lord  Alfred  for  the  next  dance,  and  intend  to  fulfil  my  engage- 
ment ;  so  you  had  better  submit  to  your  fate  quietly,  and  provide 
yourself  with  a  partner,"  was  Alice's  cool  reply. 

"Courtland  will  excuse  you,  I  am  sure,"  urged  Han-y ;  "come 
away,  if  for  no  better  reason  than  that  I  wish  it." 

•■  An  all-sufficient  one  in  your  autocratic  eyes,  I  dare  say,"  was  the 
flippant  rejoinder;  "  but  the  ban-el-organs  remind  us  too  constantly 
that  '  Britons  never  shall  be  slaves,'  for  me  to  think  of  sacrificing  my 
freedom  to  all  your  imperious  fancies.  Come,  my  lord,  they  are 
going  to  wind  up  with  Sir  Roger  de  Coverley  ;  let  us  take  our  places." 
So  saying,  Alice  accepted  the  proffered  arm  of  her  "  cavalier  servante," 
and  walked  off  with  him,  leaving  her  husband  to  straggle  against 
his  rising  anger  (which  in  her  then  frame  of  mind  she  saw  and  dis- 
regarded) as  best  he  might.  A  severe  struggle  it  was,  and  one^  in 
which  nothing  but  his  deep  love  for  her.  and  fear  of  compromising 
her  by  word  or  deed,  could  have  rendered  him  successful.  By  a 
powerful  exercise  of  self-control,  he  contrived  to  avoid  any  outward 
manifestation  of  his  feelings;  and  after  watching  Alice  and  her 
pai-tner  for  some  minutes,  with  flashing  eyes  and  an  aching  heart,  as 
they  hun-ied  through  the  boisterous  evolutions  of  that  romping 
dance,  he  wandered  listlessly  through  the  rooms,  now  partially 
deserted,  seeking  some  spot  whei-e  he  might  be  alone  with  his 
troubled  thoughts,  and  avoid  the  necessity  of  replying  to  the  common- 


230  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

places  of  society,  to  which,  at  that  moment,  he  felt  himself  com- 
pletely unfitted.  Having  passed  throngh  the  muBic-room,  he  f<»ind 
himself  in  an  elepantly-i'uinished  boudoir,  which  at  first  sij^lit  ho 
believed  to  be  imtenanted,  luid,  tiinginfj  himself  into  an  easy-chair, 
leaned  his  head  on  his  hands,  and  gave  way  to  painful  reflections. 
After  remaining  in  this  attitude  for  several  minutes,  a  sound 
resembling  a  sigh  caught  his  ear,  and,  hastily  looking  up,  he  perceived 
Arabella  Crofton. 
"  Were  you  here  when  I  entered  ?  "  he  inquired. 
"  Yes  ;  I  was  standing  in  the  recess  of  the  window,  and  the  curtain 
concealed  me.  I  should  have  spoken  to  you,  but  as  I  perceived  yuu 
were  preoccupied,  I  was  afraid  to  disturb  you,  and  did  not  intend  to 
move  until  you  had  left  the  boudoir,  but  your  ears  are  so  quick  that 
you  detected  me.  I  wish,"  she  continued,  in  a  timid,  faltering  voice, 
"  your  brow  did  not  wear  so  deep  a  shade,  or  that  I  were  in  any 
degree  able  to  remove  it."  As  she  spoke,  she  drew  nearer  to  him, 
and  leaned  her  arm  on  the  back  of  the  chair  on  which  he  was 
sitting. 

Kindness  and  affection  are  never  so  much  prized  as  when  we  have 
suffered  injustice  at  the  hands  of  one  we  love.  Words  cannot 
console  at  such  a  moment ;  but  sympathy — the  conviction  that 
another  heart  feels  for  and  with  us,  is  able  in  some  degree  to  do  so. 
Whatever  faults  Arabella  Crofton  might  possess,— and  that  they 
were  neither  few  nor  light  no  one  was  better  aware  than  Han-y 
Coverdale, — the  tnith  and  strength  of  her  regard  for  him  he  did  not 
doubt.  Deeply,  fondly,  earnestly  as  he  loved  his  wife,  he  must  have 
been  more  than  mortal  had  he  not  perforce  contrasted  the  levity  (to 
use  the  mildest  term)  and  unkindness  of  her  on  whom  he  thus 
lavished  his  whole  treasure  of  affection,  with  the  ready  sympathy, 
the  watchful  tenderness  of  one  who,  if  she  had  been  all  evil,  nay,  if 
she  had  not  possessed  in  some  degree  imusual  generosity  of  character, 
might  have  hated  him  with  a  strength  ijroportioned  to  the  regard 
she  now  appeared  to  feel  towards  him.  Men  are  constitutionally 
denied  the  relief  which  the  gentler  sex  derive  from  tears ;  but  if, 
when  a  woman  would  weep,  a  man  of  deep,  stiong  feeling  can  be 
sufficiently  softened  to  give  vent  to  his  sorrow  in  words,  the  effect 
is  somewhat  analogous.  Han-y's  heart  was  full  to  overflowing,  and 
Arabella's  well-timed  sympathy  caused  the  torrent  of  his  gi'ief  to 
burst  forth. 

"  Why  does  she  try  me  thus ! "  he  said ;  "  it  is,  it  must  be.  mere 
want  of  thought ;  she  is  wilful,  I  see  it,  as  clearly  as  I  see  and  know 
that  it  was  my  culpable  neglect  which  first  made  her  so  ;  but  this  is 
a  hard  pimishment  for  even  so  gross  a  fault !  If  she  knew  how  her 
cold  looks  and  hard  words  pain  me — how  it  grieves,  destroys  me  to 
be  forced  to  deny  her  anything— to  feel  it  my  duty,  as  I  perceive  it 
to  be  now,  to  oppose  her  slightest  wish  !  And  then  to  see  her  doing 
things  which  may  give  those  who  do  not  know  her  truth  and  purity 
as  I  do,  occasion  to   slander  her— Arabella,  it  maddens  me!"  he 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  231 

pressed  bis  hand  to  his  forehead  to  still  its  throbbinof ;  but  when  his 
companion  appeared  about  to  attempt  to  console  him,  he  resumed, 
abruptly — "  Don't  speak  ;  you  cannot  defend  her — her  conduct 
admits  of  no  defence,  and  I  will  not  hear  her  blamed  !  Neither  can 
you  advise  me ;  as  far  as  action  goes,  my  course  is  clear — I  shall 
take  her  out  of  town  to-morrow ;  and  as  I  cannot  have  it  out  with 
that  scoundrel  D'Almayne,  or  the  weak,  ungrateful  boy  he  is  ruining, 
without  compromising  her,  I  nnist  postpone  the  day  of  reckoning 
with  them — it  will  come  sooner  or  later,  that  is  all  clear  enough ;  but 
that  is  not  the  point" — here  words  failed  him,  and  covering  his  eyes 
with  his  hand,  he  relapsed  into  his  former  gloomy  silence. 

Arabella  Crofton  was  a  woman  of  strong  passions,  and  naturally 
of  strong  impulses  also,  but  these  she  had  learaed  in  great  measiu-e 
to  conti-ol ;  thus  her  manner  was  usiially  quiet  and  collected,  and 
she  both  spoke  and  acted  according  to  a  rule  laid  down  by  herself 
for  her  ovm  guidance,  and  tending  towards  some  definite  end.  But 
when,  as  in  the  present  instance,  she  was  actuated  by  any  over- 
powering feeling,  she  was  for  the  moment  completely  earned  away 
by  it,  and  would  act  for  good  or  evil,  as  the  impulse  which  controlled 
her  was  a  right  or  wrong  one.  even  in  direct  opposition  to  her  own 
plans  and  intentions.  She  disliked  Alice  most  heartily,  and  she  had 
many — we  cannot  say  "  good."  but  sufficient — reasons  for  doing  so ; 
yet  she  sympathized  so  strongly  with  Harry's  grief  at  the  idea  that 
his  wife  was  encouraging  the  attentions  of  Lord  Alfred  Coui-tland, 
that— believing,  as  she  did  honestly,  Alice  to  be  merely  amusing 
herself,  possibly  for  the  sake  of  annoying  her  husband,  but  evidently 
not  from  any  deep  feeling  for  her  admirer — she  could  not  help  trying 
to  comfort  him. 

"  Do  not  afflict  yourself  so  deeply,"  she  said  ;  "  I  cannot  bear  to 
see  you  suffer  thus !  Believe  me,  you  think  too  seriously  of  this 
matter;  Mrs.  Coverdale  is  only  amusing  herself  with  this  foolish, 
infatuated  young  man.  I  am  as  certain  as  if  I  were  in  her  confidence 
that  she  does  not  really  care  for  him  ;  the  very  openness  with  which 
she  accepts  his  attentions  proves  that  it  is  so ;  as  soon  as  she  has 
left  the  gaieties  and  frivolities  of  town,  she  will  forget  his  veiy 
existence." 

"  She  may  forget  him,"  was  the  bitter  reply ;  "  but  will  she  ever 
forget  the  cause  which  has  driven  her  to  encourage  him — which  has 
forced  her  to  seek  amusement  in  all  these  heartless  gaieties  and 
follies  ?  will  she  ever  forget  the  time  when,  pui-suing  my  own  selfish 
pleasures,  I  left  her,  day  after  day,  alone— she  who  had  always  been 
accustomed  to  live  in  a  cheerful  family,  will  she  ever  forget  my 
neglect,  and  restore  to  me  that  love  without  which  life  has  no  longer 
a  charm  for  me — that  love  which  I  once  possessed,  and  which,  God 
help  me  !  I  fear  I  have  alienated  for  ever ! " 

'•  Yes,  she  will,"  was  the  eager  reply  ;  "  if  she  ever  loved  you,  she 
loves  you  still ;  real,  true  love  never  dies :  it  would  be  better  for 
some  of  us  if  time  could  efface  feeling ! " 


232  HARRY  CO VERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

The  evident  emotion  with  which  she  uttered  these  hist  words 
touched  Harry's  kind  heart,  and,  regarding  her  with  a  look  of 
pitying  interest,  he  rejoined, — 

"  Poor  Arabella !  you  too  have  had  much  soitow  to  contend 
with ;  and  no  one  can  lament  more  deejjly  than  I  do  the  share  I 
have  had  in  increasing  it.  Mine  is  a  stninge  fate!— love  that  I 
cannot  return  is  lavished  and  wasted  on  me,  and  the  only  affection 
I  pine  for,  I  have  alienated  by  my  own  rash  and  inconsidei-ate 
conduct ! " 

She  stood  by  him  as  he  spoke,  in  the  excitement  of  his  feelings 
he  had  taken  her  hand  and  clasped  it  in  his  own.  At  this  moment 
two  figures,  which  had  been  pausing  at  the  door  of  the  lx)udoir, 
passed  hastily  on— by  the  rustling  of  the  dress,  one  of  them  was 
evidently  a  woman. 

"  But  now  hear  me  once  more,"  he  continued,  raising  himself,  and 
regarding  her  kindly  but  steadily ;  "  I  am  soiTy,  very  sorry,  to  find 
that  you  have  not  yet  overcome — however,  we  will  not  allude  to  that 
— if  at  any  time  you  want  a  friend's  advice  or  assistance,  apply  to 
me :  my  purse,  I  need  scarcely  say,  is  always  at  your  command  ;  in 
fact,  as  I  am  well-off.  and  you  unfortunately  are  not,  I  think  it  is  an 
over-refined  though  generous  scruple,  which  prevents  you  from 
allowing  me  to  assist  you  as  I  might  and  wish  to  do.  Why  do  not 
you  remember  and  strive  to  follow  my  advice  ?  You  are  still  in  a 
dependent  situation  quite  unworthy  of  you;  while  you  have  talents 
and  powers  which,  if  you  would  employ  them  in  some  straightforward, 
honest  avocation — instead  of  forming  plans  and  seeking  objects  of, 
to  say  the  least,  questionable  advisability — would  secure  you  a 
respectable  and  comfortable  position.  Think  of  all  this,  dear 
Arabella,  and  then  apply  to  me,  as  to  an  old  friend,  to  advance  you 
funds  to  cairy  out  my  ideas  in  any  way  which  seems  to  you  most 
advisable." 

For  a  moment  she  remained  silent ;  then  bending  over  him,  so  that 
her  ringlets  mingled  with  his  dark  curling  hair,  she  murmured, — 

"  You  are  good,  and  kind,  and  generous,  as  you  ever  were  ;  and — 
yes,  I  will  strive  to  make  myself  Avorthy  of  your  friendship;  if  T  fail, 
you  know  my  impulsive,  passionate  nature,  and  you  will  pardon,  not 
condemn  me ;  for  my  gi*eatest  sorrow,  you  now  know  how  to  pity 
me !  You  say  you  intend  to  leave  London  to-morrow,  and  I  tliink  it 
will  be  wise  in  you  to  do  so — perhaps  we  may  never  meet  again,  and 
so,  my  dear,  dear  friend,  farewell ! " 

He  had  retained  her  hand,  and  she  returned  his  cordial,  warm 
pressure ;  then,  by  a  sudden  impulse,  she  stooped,  pressed  her  pale 
lips  upon  his  high,  smooth  brow,  and— was  gone. 

Harry  followed  her  with  his  glance  as  she  left  the  room. 

"  Poor  thing  I  "  he  munnured,  "  she  has  many  high  qualities  ;  and 
such  a  life  as  she  leads  must  be  a  complete  purgatory  to  her  proud, 
impetuous  disposition ;  I  hope  she  will  fall  into  good  hands,  and— 
and  keep  out  of  my  way.    Alice  evidently  dislikes  and  suspects  her, 


t^if  Bi 


0- 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  233 

and  nothing  I  can  say  is  likely  to  lessen  the  feeling.  Now  for 
taking  my  poor,  dear,  naughty,  foolish,  little  wife  home,  and  lectur- 
ing her.  She  seemed  angry  with  me ;  because  I  did  not  arrive  in 
time  to  accompany  her  to  the  ball,  I  suppose — as  if  I  could  prevent 
railway  trains  from  breaking  down ; — ah,  it's  wretched,  miserable 
work  all  of  it !  " 

Having  an-ived  at  this  cheerful  conclusion,  Harry  rose  and  pro- 
ceeded in  search  of  his  wife. 

In  the  meantime,  the  coimtry-dance  being  ended.  Lord  Alfred  had 
offered  his  arm  to  his  partner,  and  proposed  a  stroll  through  the 
rooms— a  proposition  to  which  Alice,  who,  in  her  present  state  of 
feeling,  was  anxious  to  do  anything  rather  than  haste  the  inevitable 
'tcte-^-tcte'  with  her  husband,  consented.  As  they  passed  a  group 
who  were  gathered  round  a  clever  copy  from  one  of  the  great  works 
of  some  old  master,  DAlmayne  approached  Lord  Alfred,  and  making 
some  light  remark  to  screen  his  real  object,  found  an  opportunity  to 
whisper  to  his  pupil, — 

"  Take  her  to  the  door  of  the  boudoir,  and  detain  her  there  to  look 
at  the  pictiu'es  in  the  ante-room  for  a  minute ;  there  is  a  '  tableau 
vivant'  inside  the  apartment  which  will  interest  her  deeply  !  " 

Partially  guessing  his  meaning.  Lord  Alfred  executed  the  task 
with  so  much  tact  and  skill,  that  all  this  by-play  was  completely 
unnoticed  by  Alice,  and  when  they  reached  the  door  of  the  boudoir, 
which  stood  ajar,  she  stopped  to  examine  a  picture,  in  perfect 
unconsciousness  of  any  plot  or  contrivance;  as  she  did  so,  the 
following  sentence,  spoken  in  tones  of  deep  emotion,  fell  upon  her 
ear : — 

"  Love  that  I  cannot  return  is  lavished  and  wasted  on  me,  and  the 
only  affection  I  pine  for,  I  have  alienated  by  my  own  rash  and  incon- 
siderate conduct ! " 

The  sound  of  the  voice  was  all  that  Alice  required  to  enable  her  to 
decide  that  the  speaker  was  her  husband;  and  a  hun-ied  glance 
I)roved  to  her  that  his  speech  had  been  addressed  to  Arabella 
Crofton,  her  rival,  as  she  had  long  suspected  her  to  be— a  fact  in 
regard  to  which  she  now  received  the  assurance  of  her  o^vn  senses. 

Harry's  speech  could  bear  but  one  intei-pretation :  the  "  love 
wasted  on  him  which  he  could  never  return,"  was  her  own — his 
wife's  !  the  "  affection  he  pined  for,  and  had  alienated  by  his  rash  and 
inconsiderate  conduct,"  was  that  of  Arabella  Crofton  !  the  "  rash  con- 
duct "  he  was  so  bitterly  repenting— his  marriage  !  Yes,  she  saw  it 
all,  and  felt  that  for  her  there  was  no  longer  such  a  thing  as  happi- 
ness in  this  life.  Now  that  she  knew,  that  she  had  heard  from  his 
own  lips,  that  he  no  longer  loved  her,— nay,  that  he  had  transferred 
his  affection  to  anotner,— she  felt  how  all-imporfant,  how  essential 
it  had  been  to  her— existence  without  Harry's  love  to  brighten  it, 
would  be  like  the  un  ver&e  without  sunlight— cold,  dark,  desolate. 

Poor  little  Alice !  she  had  acted  very  wrongly ;  she  had  been  self- 
willed,  petulant,  unjust,  and  disobedient  to  her  husband;    but  if 


234  HARRY  CO VERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

suffering  could  atone  for  sin,  the  bitterness  of  that  moment  mi^ht 
have  expiated  graver  offences  than  those  of  which  she  had  been 
guilty.  Her  first  idea  was  to  get  away  from  the  spot :  lost  iis  he  was 
to  her,  Harry  should  never  say  she  was  a  spy  upon  his  actions.  She 
tunied  to  communicate  her  wish  to  her  companion,  and  saw  his  eyes 
fixed  on  her  face  with  a  peculiar  intelligence  which  she  had  never  ob- 
served before,  and  in  an  instant  the  thought  flashed  across  her  that 
she  had  been  brought  there  by  design ;  and,  without  allowing  time 
for  reflection  as  to  the  advisability  of  making  such  an  accusation, 
she  exclaimed, — 

"  You  knew  they  were  there,  and  brought  me  on  purpose  to  see 
them,  and  so  to  destroy  the  happiness  of  my  future  life  !  what  have 
I  ever  done  to  you  to  desei-ve  this  at  your  hands  !  " 

Utterly  taken  aback  by  this  direct  and  unexpected  attack,  Lord 
Alfred  coloured  up,  stammered  something  unintelligible,  and  at  last 
attempted  to  screen  himself  behind  the  equivocation  that  he  did  not 
know  Mr.  Coverdale  was  in  the  boxidoir. 

"  If  you  did  not  know  it,  you  suspected  it,"  was  the  reply ;  "  your 
featui-es  are  more  honest  than  your  words,  my  lord,  and  bt'tray 
you." 

Greatly  confounded  at  this  most  unexpected  result  of  his  scheme, 
Lord  Alfred  vowed,  and  protested,  and  attemjited  to  cleai*  and 
defend  himself,  but  in  vain.  The  shock  Alice  had  received  had 
couched  her  mental  vision,  and,  turaing  a  deaf  ear  to  his  excuses,  she 
sternly  desired  him  to  take  her  back  to  Mrs.  Crane  immediately ; 
and  then  preserved  an  offended  silence,  so  that  his  lordship  was  glad 
to  take  her  at  her  word,  and  lead  her  back  to  the  drawing-room,  in 
■which  the  Crane  pai-ty  had  ensconced  themselves. 

"  Kate,  let  us  get  home — I  am  wearied  to  death ;  somebody  said  the 
carriage  was  waiting." 

The  words  were  commonplace  enough,  but  something  in  the  tone 
in  which  they  were  uttered  caused  Mrs.  Crane  to  regard  her  cousin 
attentively,  and  her  quick  eye  soon  discerned  that  there  was  some- 
thing amiss.  "  Alice,  is  anything  wrong,  deai*  ?  you  ai*e  not  ill  ?  " 
"  Yes !  no  !  my  head  aches—  only  let  us  get  away  !  "  was  the  reply. 
"  But  someone  told  me  that  Mr.  Coverdale  had  arrived  ;  where  is 
he  ? — you  will  wait  for  him  ?  "  returned  Kate,  alarmed  and  sui-prised 
at  Alice's  unwonted  agitation. 

"  He  will  come  when  he  likes  ;  he — has  found  some  friends  of  his, 
I  believe,"  niurmm-ed  Alice.  "  Only  let  us  get  away  !  "  she  added,  in 
so  imploring  a  tone  that  Kate,  convinced  some  contretemps  had 
occurred,  despatched  Mr.  Crane  in  search  of  Miss  Crofton,  and, 
taking  leave  of  Lady  Tattersall  Ti-ottemout  (who  thinking  they  had 
resolved  to  spend  the  night  there,  naturally  deplored  their  "  lamning 
away  so  early  ") ,  repaired  to  the  cloak-room.  Here  the  others,  in- 
cluding Han-y  Coverdale,  joined  them,  and  in  another  quaiier  of  an 
hour  they  were  safely  housed  in  Park  Lane. 
Thus  ended  Lady  Tattersall  Trottemout's  '  soiree  dansante  ' ;  but 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  235 

its  consequences  continued  to  influence  the  lives  of  those  whose 
fortunes  we  are  tracinj?,  for  many  a  long  year. 

Nothing  passed  between  Coverdale  and  Alice  in  reference  to  the 
scenes  we  have  just  described  until  the  next  morning,  when,  before 
they  went  down  to  breakfast,  Hany  observed  abruptly,  "  Alice,  it  is 
my  particular  wish  that  you  should  go  down  to  the  Park  to-day  :  can 
you  be  ready  to  start  by  the  four  o'clock  train  ?  " 

"Yes,"  was  the  imexpectedly  acquiescent  reply;  tlien  after  a 
moment's  pause,  "  What  reason  am  I  to  give  Kate  for  leaving  her  so 
suddenly  ?  " 

Astonished  at  such  a  ready  consent  where  he  had  expected  strong 
opposition,  if  not  an  actual  refusal  to  comply  with  his  desire,  Harry 
looked  steadfastly  at  his  wife,  but  her  face  was  turned  away,  so  that 
he  could  not  read  its  expression.  "  My  true  reason  I  will  explain  to 
you  at  some  time  when  we  can  talk  the  matter  over  coolly  and 
quietly,"  was  the  reply;  "the  reason  I  wish  you  to  give  your  cousin 
—  which  is  a  good,  true,  and  sufficient  reason  in  itself,  although  not 
the  only  one  by  which  I  am  actuated— is.  that  your  sister  Emily  has 
received  an  invitation  to  stay  with  a  friend  of  hers,  which  Mi-s. 
Hazlehurst  is  anxious  she  should  accept,  thinking  she  requires 
change;  but  Emily  very  properly  refused  to  leave  her  mother.  I 
dined  there  the  day  before  yesterday,  and  hearing  of  the  dilemma, 
proposed  that  you  should  take  Emily's  place  for  a  fortnight  or  three 
weeks— I  was  not  wrong  in  making  such  an  offer,  was  I  ?  " 

"No  ;  I  shall  be  vei-y  glad  to  see  and  be  of  use  to  dear  mamma," 
was  the  reply. 

^^  "  I  should  have  told  you  all  this  last  night,"  continued  Coverdale, 
"  but  for  reasons  I  will  not  enter  upon  at  present." 

He  waited  for  some  comment  on  his  speech,  but  he  waited  in  vain  ; 
Alice  continued  to  add  the  finishing  touches  to  her  toilet,  until, 
being  completely  equipped,  she  quietly  observed,  "  It  is  time  to  go 
down,  I  think  ;  the  breakfast  bell  will  ring  directly  ;  "  and,  suiting 
the  action  to  the  word,  she  departed,  leaving  her  husband  to  follow 
when  he  pleased.  Kate  was  surprised  to  hear  of  their  sudden 
determination  to  leave  town,  and  sori-y  to  part  with  them  ;  but  their 
reason  for  so  doing  was  such  a  plausible  one,  that  she  could  urge 
nothing  against  it.  She  saw  that  there  was  something  more— that 
neither  Harry  nor  his  wife  were  at  their  ease ;  but  Alice  kept  her 
own  coimsel  so  closely  that  all  Kate's  endeavours  to  win  her  confi- 
dence were  futile,  and  she  was  obliged  to  content  herself  by  suppos- 
ing that  it  was  a  mere  matrimonial  breeze  which  Avould  blow  over, 
as  such  affairs  usually  do,  without  any  very  serious  consequences 
resulting  from  it. 

Coverdale  Park  was  reached  without  adventure,  and  appeared  as 
cool,  and  calm,  and  happy  as  the  country  usually  does  to  the  eyes  of 
fashion-wearied  Londoners;  and  HaiTy,  unaffectedly  delighted  to 
escape  from  the  uncongenial  atmosphere  of  a  crowded  city  to  his 
home,— which  he  loved  with  his  whole  heart,— forgot,  in  the  pleasure 


236  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

he  experienced,  the  amount  of  Alice's  misdemeanours,  and  was  only 
anxious  to  be  reconciled  with  her,  and  to  assure  her  of  his  pei-fect 
and  entire  forgiveness.  But  since  the  jn-evious  evening  a  change — 
for  which  he  could  not  accoimt,  and  which  began  to  lender  him  very 
uneasy — had  come  over  Alice  :  she  was  no  longer  in-itable  and  petu- 
lant at  one  moment,  yet  amused  and  light-hearted  at  the  next,  but  a 
settled  gloom  hung  o'er  her  brow,  which  indicated  soitow  rather 
than  anger;  and  although  she  had  never  allowed  hiui  to  sunn-ise  her 
in  tears,  her  eyes  bore  unmistakable  traces  of  weeping.  Their  tete- 
^-tote  dinner  passed  off  heavily  enough :  as  they  sat  moodily  over 
their  dessei-t,  Han-y  observed,  "  The  evening  is  most  lovely— come 
out  and  take  a  stroll."  He  spoke  kindly,  almost  tenderly,  and  as 
Alice  looked  up  to  reply  to  him,  her  eyes  filled  with  tears  ;  hastily 
checking  them  before  they  could  be  observed,  she  agreed.  Her  hus- 
band carefully  ])luced  a  shawl  over  her  shoulders.  l>rought  from  the 
hall  her  garden  bonnet,  and  drawing  her  arm  within  his  own.  they 
walked  on  for  some  distance  in  silence.  At  length  Han-y  observed, 
"Alice,  dear,  you  seem  downcast  and  unhappy — why  is  this  ?  surely 
you  cannot  regret  that  hot,  miserable,  artificial  London  ?  you  must 
be  glad  to  get  back  to  our  own  dear,  quiet  home  again  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  in  the  least  regret  London,"  was  the  reply ;  "  on  the 
contrary,  I  am  glad  to  be  once  more  in  the  countiy  again." 

"  Then  why  this  gloomy  manner  ?  "  urged  Coverdale ;  "  I  may 
have  been  a  little  annoyed  with  you  at  times  lately,  but  I  am  quite 
prepared  to  believe  it  was  mere  thoughtlessness  on  your  part ;  in 
fact,  I  never  considered  it  anything  else.  I  feel  sure  when  you 
come  to  reflect  seriously  on  the  matter,  you  will  yourself  see  that 
your  conduct  was  a  little  injudicious  ;  and,  in  that  case,  believe  me 
the  affair  is  from  this  moment  forgotten  and  forgiven."  Hairy 
paused  for  a  reply,  but  for  several  moments  none  was  forthcoming ; 
at  last,  his  patience  being  exhausted,  he  inquired  in  a  tone  of 
surprise,  "  Alice,  did  yol^  hear  what  I  was  saying  ?  " 

"I  beg  your  pardon," rejoined  Alice,  starting,  " I  was  not  attend- 
ing properly  at  that  moment;  you  were  blaming  me  for  something, 
were  you  not  ?    I  am  very  sorry — what  was  it  ?  " 

As  she  spoke  Harry  glanced  towards  her  to  discover  whether  she 
had  been  really  too  much  pre-engrossed  to  attend  to  him,  or  whether 
she  merely  affected  to  have  been  so  for  the  amiable  purpose  of 
provoking  him ;  deciding  in  favour  of  the  first  hypothesis,  he 
resumed  :  "  I  was  saying,  my  dear  Alice,  that  although  your  flirtation 
with  that  foolish  boy,  Alfred  Courtland,  had  caused  me  some  un- 
easiness— because  people  dared  to  remark  on  it,  unluckily  not  in  a 
way  that  I  could  take  up — yet  that  I  was  convinced  it  was  merely 
thoughtlessness  on  your  part,  and  was  anxious  to  forgive  and  f oi'get 
it." 

If  he  had  expressly  tried  to  rouse  Alice  from  the  state  of  gloomy 
depression  into  which  she  had  fallen,  Harry  could  not  have  devised 
means  more  effectual  than  the  speech  he  had  just  addressed  to  her. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  237 

With  flashing  eyes  she  heard  him  to  the  end,  then  inquired  •  "  And 
pray,  who  has  dared-(you  may  well  use  the  word!)-who  has  dared 
^accuse  me  of  flirting?  But  I  need  not  ask,"  she  continued 
bitterly ;  no  one  but  Miss  Crofton  would  have  ventured  to  asperse 
your  w.fes  character  before  you-from  no  one  else  would  you  have 
belfeve  it ' ''''      ""  ^^l^ehood-no  one  else  could  have  induced  you  to 

Astoni^shed.  and  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  somewhat  confounded  at 
having  the  tables  thus  turned  upon  him,  Harry  exclaimed,  "Alice 
what  do  you  mean?  what  ai-e  you  talking  about?  have  you  taken 
leave  of  your  senses  all  of  a  sudden  ?  " 

"  If  I  had  I  should  scarcely  be  surprised,"  was  the  rejoinder  •  "  but 
I  k-now  only  too  weU  what  I  am  saying,  and  the  cause  I  have  to  sav 
and  believe  it;  however,  I  do  not  want  to  reproach  you,  that  would 
do  no  good:  but-but- knowing  what  I  know-"  an  hysterical  sob 
choked  _her  voice-'- it  is  too  hard  that  you  should  accuse  me  of 
flu-tmg  -and  here,  utterly  overcome  by  her  feelings,  she  burst  into 
a  paroxysm  of  weeping.  WhoUy  confounded  at  this  unexpected 
result  of  his  veiy  mild  remonstrance,  which  had  been  intended  more 
as  a  judicious  way  of  forgi^'ing  Alice's  misdemeanours  than  as  a 
reprimand.  Harry  led  her  to  a  seat,  and  then  used  his  best  endeavours 
to  console  and  bring  her  to  reason  ;  but  in  vain,  nor  was  it  until  she 
was  fam  to  stop  through  sheer  physical  exhaustion  that  her  tears 
ceased;  by  which  time,  what  between  bodily  fatigue  (she  had  not 
been  in  bed  imtil  between  three  and  four  on  the  previous  night 
or  rather  mommg,  could  not  sleep  then,  and  had  accomplished  a 
railway  journey  smce)  and  mental  agitation,  she  was  so  completely 
wora  out  that  even  Hany,  who  was  not  usually  too  clear-sighted  on 
such  pomts.  perceived  this  was  not  a  fitting  opportunity  to  continue 
the  discussiou. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

DEEPER  AND   DEEPER   STILL. 


On  the  afternoon  of  the  day  after  that  on  which  she  returned 
home,  Alice  was  to  go  to  the  Grange,  and  take  her  sister's  place  as 
compamon  to  Mrs.  Hazlehurst.  During  the  morning  Harry  was 
occupied  with  his  bailife  and  the  farming  accounts,  but  he  made  his 
appearance  at  luncheon.  When  that  meal  was  concluded,  and  the 
servants  had  quitted  the  room,  he  began  gravely,  but  kindly :— 


238  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  Alice,  dear,  I  do  not  wish  to  distress  or  annoy  you,  but,  1)efore 
you  leave  home,  I  must  once  ajjain  refer  to  the  convereation  of  lust 
nif,'ht.  I  know  not  who  has  coupled  my  name  with  that  of  your 
cousin  Kate's  friend.  Miss  Crofton,  nor  what  falsehoods  they  may 
liave  coined  to  blacken  my  character  in  your  eyes  ;  but,  since  I  have 
known  you,  I  have  never  attempted  to  deceive  you  on  any  point ; 
and  I  tell  you  now,  on  my  honour  as  a  prentleuum,  that  nothing;  ever 
has  passed,  or  is  in  the  smallest  depn'ee  likely  to  pass,  between 
myself  and  that  young  lady,  calculated  to  cause  you  the  sliprhtest 
pain  or  even  uneasiness.  Does  this  satisfy  you,  or,  if  not,  can  I  say  or 
do  anything  that  will  ?  " 

"Yes!"  exclaimed  Alice,  her  face  flushing  with  eagerness  as  the 
idea  stiixck  her.  "  Promise  to  tell  me  exactly  all  that  passed 
between  you  and  her  in  Italy  ! — promise  me  this  ;  show  me  that  you 
are  willing  to  confide  in  me ;  trust  to  my  affection  to  forgive  you, 
should  you  tell  me  anything  you  think  may  displease  me ;  and  I  will, 
on  my  part,  tiy  to  forget  my  own  convictions  that— that — in  fact, 
that  you  do  not  love  me  as  I  believe  you  once  did!  Tell  me  all 
frankly,  and  there  may  yet  be  happiness  in  store  for  us  both." 

She  paused,  breathless  with  emotion,  and  fixing  her  large  eyes  on 
her  husband's  countenance,  as  though  she  fain  would  read  his  very 
thoughts,  awaited  a  reply ;  but  for  a  minute  none  appeared  likely  to 
come.  Coverdale.  pushing  back  his  hair,  rubbing  his  forehead,  and 
evincing  unmistakable  signs  of  annoyance  and  perjilexity,  at  length 
roused  himself  by  an  effort,  and.  in  a  constrained,  emban-assed  tone 
of  voice,  replied, — 

"  Ask  me  anything  but  that:  I  am  under  a  solemn  promise  never 
to  mention  the  facts  you  desire  to  learn ;  I  cannot  l)reak  my  word 
even  to  regain  your  affection." 

"I  will  ask  nothing  more  of  you,"  retunied  Alice,  in  a  tone  of 
deeply-wotmded  feeling  ;  "  it  was  foolish  to  ask  that — I  might  have 
known  you  would  I'efuse  to  answer  me ;  ;ind  it  was  woi-se  than  folly 
to  fancy  you  eared  to  retain  my  affection !  And  now  let  me  go  home 
to  mamma ;  thank  God  I  may  yet  be  of  some  use  and  comfort  to  her, 
and,  at  all  events,  I  know  that  she  loves  me — oh !  that  I  had  never 
left  her !  "  and  disregarding  Harry's  exclamation,  "  Alice,  hear  me ! 
indeed  you  mistake — "  she  hurried  out  of  the  room. 

Her  huslxind  remained  motionless  until  her  retreating  footsteps 
became  inaudible,  then,  springing  from  his  chair,  he  began  pacing 
up  and  down  with  hasty  strides,  while  his  ideas  an-anged  themselves 
somewhat  after  the  following  fashion ; — 

"  Well,  I've  made  a  pretty  mess  of  it  now,  and  no  mistake  !  Of  all 
things  in  the  world  for  her  to  have  fixed  upon — to  want  to  know 
about  Arabella ;  and  poor  Arabella  has  behaved  so  nicely  and  kindly 
too  in  this  affair !  I  can't  tell  her !  besides,  there's  my  promise — 
come  what  may  I'll  keep  my  promise  ;  but  I  am  an  unlucky  dog  as 
ever  lived  !  Ah !  I  never  ought  to  have  mari-ied,  that's  the  whole 
truth.    Women  don't  seem  to  understand  me,  and  I'm  sure  I  don't 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  239 

understand  them  ;  whetlier  I'm  stern  or  whether  I'm  kind  it  all  tnnis 
out  alike,  and  all  Avi-ong.  Poor,  dear  little  Alice !  she  is  makinj^ 
herself  just  as  miserable  as  she  has  made  me  :  and  for  the  life  of  me, 
I  don't  know  how  to  say  or  do  anything  to  mend  matters  !  I  must 
leave  it  to  time,  I  suppose.  Perhaps  her  mother  may  talk  her  into  a 
happier  frame  of  mind.  I  am  glad  she  is  going  back  to  the  Grange ; 
I  think  111  leave  her  there  for  a  shoi-t  time — home  influences  may 
soften  her,  and  induce  her  to  judge  me  more  charitably.  I'm  certain 
it's  all  my  own  fault,  somehow !  She  was  as  sweet-tempered  as  an 
angel  when  I  married  her."  He  continued  to  pace  the  room,  and  after 
some  moments  a  new  notion  seemed  to  strike  him.  "  I  wonder  who  has 
l)een  putting  these  ideas  about  Arabella  into  her  head,"  he  resumed, 
"  somebody  has  been  telling  her  about  the  Florence  business,  that's 
clear — lies  most  likely,  and  in  order  to  set  her  against  me.  That 
man  D'Aluiuyne,  I  mistrust  him — he's  playing  a  deep  game  of  some 
kind  ;  and  his  manner  to  Kate  Crane  I  disapprove  of  strongly.  If 
he  has  been  meddling— if  he  has  dared  to  say  or  insinuate  anything 
against  me  to  Alice,  by  heaven,  I'll— I'll  -  no,  I  could  not  trust 
myself  to  horsewhip  him,  at  least  not  just  yet,  I  should  kill  the 
scoundrel.  I've  a  gieat  mind  to  run  up  to  London,  when  I've  taken 
Alice  to  the  Grange,  and  ti-y  and  find  out  something  about  it ;  but  I 
won't  be  hasty — I  must  not  I  the  interests  at  stake  are  too  important 
— Alice's  happiness  for  life,  to  say  {nothing  of  my  own,  which  is 
bound  up  in  hers,  depends  upon  how  I  behave  for  the  next  few 
months — no ;  I  won't  act  rashly  or  hastily,  nothing  shall  induce  me 
to  do  so ! " 

Of  all  the  high  and  solemn  mysteries  that  enshroud  the  spirit-life 
none  are  more  inscnitable,  yet  invested  with  a  deeper  and  more  vital 
interest,  than  those  apparently  in-econcilable  paradoxes — predestina- 
tion and  free-will.  Our  possession  of  this  latter  attribute  is  a  tenet 
held,  and  carelessly  acquiesced  in,  by  Christians  of  every  denomina- 
tion; yet  how  little  do  we  realize  or  estimate  its  practical  importance. 
It  is  impossible  to  reflect,  even  for  a  moment,  on  so  vast  a  field  of 
thought  without  eliciting  ideas  at  once  salutai-y  and  impressive.  Nor 
can  we  fully  recognize  our  obligations  as  responsible  beings  until,  in 
tracing  the  fortunes  of  some  fellow-creature,  of  whose  path  through 
life  oui'  limited  powers  enable  us  to  perceive  only  the  dim  and 
shadowy  outline,  we  see  how  what  appear  trifles— made  a  right  use 
of,  as  they  should  be,  or  abused,  as  they  too  often  are— influence  a 
lifetime  here,  and  fearful  thought,  determine  an  eternity  hereafter  ! 

In  things  spii-itual,  as  well  as  in  things  material,  cause  goveiTis 
effect,  and  the  laws  which  regulate  consequences  are  equally  stringent 
and  immutable  in  both  cases,  although  in  the  former  they  are  not  so 
easily  traceable.  Still  to  the  earaest,  careful,  and  patient  observer 
of  the  mysterious  ways  of  Providence,  suggestive  glimpses  are 
afforded,  aided  by  which  he  may  reason  from  things  seen  to  things 
unseen.  Thus  remarking  how  some  strange  train  of  events  result 
from  a  single  act  which  we  may  long  have  feebly  i^roposed  to  perform, 


240  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

but  the  execution  of  whicli  we  have  delayed  from  day  to  day,  until 
some  unexpected  excitement  has  quickened  our  resolve  into  action, 
we  may  le{?itimately  arL,'ue  that  tliese  events  have  been,  as  it  were, 
■waiting?  for  the  touch  which  was  to  set  the  train  in  motion  ;  that  if  that 
motive  power  had  been  applied  sooner,  the  same  results  would  have 
been  proportionably  hastened  ;  and  that  if  it  had  never  been  applied 
at  all,  the  history  of  events  would  have  borae  a  different  record. 
"We  are  so  fearfully  and  wonderfully  constituted,  and  the  dealinjfs  of 
the  Creator  with  His  creatures  are  so  complicated  and  inscrutnble.  that 
we  know  not  what  <,'reat  events  may  hinpfe  upon  our  sli^'htest  iictions. 
The  avalanche  lies  in  all  its  dread  sublimity,  apparently  as  immovable 
as  the  mountain  sid«  it  rests  on;  the  careless  foot  of  some  chamois 
hunter  di8U)dges  a  stone— the  spell  which  enchained  the  destroyer  is 
broken — with  the  velocity  of  the  whirlwind  the  mass  descends, 
crushing  and  overwhelming  all  before  it — and  heart-rending 
memories  are  all  that  reauiin  to  beai*  witness  of  some  once  prosperous 
village  and  its  inhabitants. 

One,  who  saw  all  clearly  where  we  but  blindly  and  feebly  catch  a 
ray  of  light,  i)rayed  for  His  executioners  in  these  remarkable  words 
— "Father,  forgive  them,  they  know  not  what  they  do!"  Ideas 
such  as  the  foregoing  are  calculated  to  inspire  feelings  of  awe  ;  but, 
if  they  are  true,  they  should  not  be  put  aside  because  they  give  a 
solemn  view  of  oiu-  responsibilities ;  when,  moreover,  rightly  con- 
sidered, they  teach  an  important  practical  lesson — namely,  never  to 
neglect  what  appear  to  be  little  duties,  or  carelessly  to  fall  into  little 
sins.  It  seems  but  a  little  duty  to  extinguish  a  fallen  spark  ;  yet 
that  spark  may  kindle  a  fire  Avhich  may  consume  a  city,  which,  save 
for  that  accident,  might  have  endured  for  centuries.  It  seems  but 
a  little  sin  to  utter  a  playful  jest  on  some  serious  subject ;  but  that 
jest  may  inspii'e  a  doubt  which  may  injure  a  wavering  faith,  and  en- 
danger a  soul's  salvation.  Some  may  deem  these  remarks  misplaced 
in  a  work  of  fiction ;  but  if  it  be  a  novelist's  endeavour  to  depict 
truly  the  various  phases  of  human  life,  nought  that  truly  affects  the 
springs  of  human  action  can  be  foreign  to  his  subject. 

The  evening  of  Lady  Tattersall  Trottemout's  party  was  not  the 
first  occasion  on  which  Harry  Coverdale  had  bestowed  good  and 
sound  advice  on  Arabella  Crofton,  but  never  before  had  it  produced 
the  desired  effect.  Now,  however,  a  new  impulse  spi-ang  up  within 
her — she  would  conquer  her  hopeless,  selfish,  sinful  love  for  him.  and 
strive  to  render  herself  worthy  of  his  friendship,  and  win  at  least  his 
esteem ;  but  how  should  she  begin  practically  to  work  out  his  advice 
— how  attempt  to  render  hei'self  independent — what  duty  lay  most 
directly  in  her  path  ?  Her  intention  was  honest  and  sincere,  and 
that  morning's  post  brought  an  answer  to  her  question.  A  female 
relation  whom  she  had  hitherto  neglected,  was  taken  sei-iously  ill, 
and  wi'ote  wishing,  but  scarcely  expecting  her  to  come  to  her  im- 
mediately. This  lady  was  old,  uninteresting,  and  in  straitened  cir- 
cumstances ;  to  go  to  her  was  an  act  of  unmitigated  self-sacrifice. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  24t 

and  in  Ai-abella's  then  frame  of  mind  this  was  its  prreat  atti-action. 
Kate  Crane  was  sori-y  to  pai-t  with  her,  although  the  short  time  they 
had  passed  together  had  sufficed  to  convince  her  of  the  disagieeable 
fact  that  her  dear  friend  no  longer  suited  her  as  she  had  done  in  her 
schoolgirl  days.  There  was  a  very  simple  reason  for  this,  although 
Kate  did  not  at  once  perceive  it :  Ai-abella  Crof ton  was  at  an  age 
when  the  mind  and  body  having  reached  maturity,  if  they  do  not 
remain  stationary,  yet  alter  so  gradually,  that  the  change  is  almost 
imperceptible  ;  she  was,  therefore,  much  what  she  had  been  four  years 
previously.  Kate,  on  the  contrary,  had  advanced  from  a  girl  into  a 
woman ;  and  her  intellectual  powers  had  not  only  developed  until 
they  were  now  in  every  respect  superior  to  those  of  her  "  ci-devant " 
governess,  but  her  taste  had  been  formed  on  a  better  and  purer 
model,  and  her  natural  instincts  were  of  a  higher  and  more  refined 
character.  Thus,  Arabella  was  constantly  jamng  against  and 
annoying  Kate's  sensitiveness  by  thought,  word,  and  deed  ;  and  she 
felt  that  a  gulf  had  gi-own  up  between  them,  which  would  effectually 
prevent  her  friend's  society  from  affording  her  the  comfort  and 
support  she  had  hoped  and  expected.  Aral)ella  was  much  too  quick- 
sighted  not  to  have  perceived  the  effect  this  feeling  had  produced 
uix)n  Kate's  manner,  although  she  was  ignorant  of  the  cause.  Thus, 
the  parting  between  the  friends — for,  from  old  association,  friends 
they  still  were — was  by  no  means  so  painful  as  under  other  circum- 
stances they  might  have  considered  it. 

Left  to  her  own  devices,  Kate  bethought  her  of  the  expedition  to 
visit  Mrs.  Leonard,  which  Horace  D'Almayne  had  proposed  to  heron 
the  occasion  of  the  horticultural  fdte,  but  which  she  had  never  yet 
found  an  opportunity  to  accom[)li8h.  Mrs.  Leonard's  history  was  a 
distressing  one.  Her  husband  had  been  partner  in  a  north  coimtry 
bank,  at  which  Mr.  Crane  usually  kept  a  considerable  account.  On 
one  occasion,  when  his  balance  there  exceeded  even  its  usual  limits, 
a  junior  partner  suddenly  absconded  to  Amei'ica,  taking  with  him  so 
considerable  a  sum  that  the  bank  was  obliged  to  stop  payment,  and 
Mr.  Leonard  found  himself  a  ruined  man.  In  his  adversity,  his  mind 
became  engrossed  by  one  fixed  idea,  which  almost  assumed  the 
character  of  a  monomania — viz.,  that  it  was  his  mission  to  trace  out 
his  late  partner,  and  recover  the  money  with  which  he  had  made 
away ;  this  notion  preyed  upon  him  until  one  morning  he,  too, 
suddenly  disappeared,  leaving  a  letter  to  inform  his  wife  that  he 
had  set  out  in  search  of  the  delinquent,  and  that  she  would  hear 
nothing  more  of  him  until  he  had  succeeded  in  his  object.  On 
inquiry,  it  appeared  that  he  had  taken  a  berth  in  an  American 
packet,  which  had  just  sailed,  and,  beyond  that,  all  trace  of  him  was 
lost.  Consequently,  his  family  had  fallen  into  actual  poverty,  which, 
day  by  day,  assumed  a  sterner  and  more  hopeless  character.  A 
gentleman  well  versed  in  the  details  of  Mr.  Crane's  early  acquaintance 
with  Mr.  Leonard  (who,  before  Mr.  Crane  had  amassed  the  fortune 
he  now  possessed,  had  several  times  advanced  him  money,  and  in  a 

a. 


242  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

measure,  therefore,  contributed  to  his  success  in  life)  advised  Mrs. 
Leonard  to  apply  to  him  for  assistance  ;  and  beiucf  aware  how  much 
the  millionaire  was  guided  by  the  opinion  of  Horace  D'Alniayne, 
suggested  that  she  should  make  her  first  application  through  him  : 
in  which  ap[)eal  the  fertile  brain  of  that  good  young  man  perceived 
matter  which  might  be  made  profitable  to  the  furtherance  of  hiii 
designs,  and  rean-anged  his  hand,  so  as  to  take  in  the  new  cards  thus 
placed  within  his  reach. 

The  plan  which  D'Almayne  had  settled  with  Kate  was  this  : — she 
was  sitting  for  her  portrait  to  an  artist  friend  of  Horace's,  to  whose 
painting-room  she  went  twice  a  week  ;  D'Almayne  proposed  to  send 
away  the  carriage  and  servants,  when  he  would  have  a  hired 
brougham  in  readiness  to  convey  her  to  the  obscure  sulnirb  in  which 
Mrs.  Leonard's  poverty  compelled  her  to  reside ;  he  would  meet  her 
on  her  aiTival  there,  and  introduce  her  to  Mrs.  Leonard ;  she  could 
then  return  to  the  artist's,  whence  her  own  carriage  could  again 
fetch  her  and  convey  her  home.  Kate  disliked  all  this  clandestine 
contrivance;  but,  considering  the  end  of  sufficient  importance  to 
justify  the  means,  she  was  unable  to  devise  any  less  objectionalde 
scheme,  and  so  reluctantly  consented.  She  reached  her  destination 
•without  adventure.  The  dwelling  occupied  by  Mrs.  Leonard  was 
situated  in  one  of  the  labyrinths  of  small,  unwholesome  streets  which 
lie  between  Islington  and  Pentonville,  and  contain  a  description  of 
houses  too  good,  or,  more  truly  speaking,  too  expensive,  for  the 
very  lowest  orders  to  reside  in,  and  yet  so  confined  and  comfortless 
that  it  appears  incredible  that  any  persons,  accustomed  to  even 
the  ordinary  requirements  of  respectable  life,  can  tolerate  them. 
D'Almayne  was  waiting  in  readiness  to  receive  her,  and.  offerinjf 
her  his  arm,  led  her  up  the  narrow  steps  and  into  a  miserable  parlour, 
some  eight  feet  square,  with  the  same  elaborate  and  coxcombical 
politeness  with  which  he  would  have  conducted  her  across  the 
receiving-room  of  a  duchess.  Mrs.  Leonard  was  a  singularly  gentle, 
lady-like  pei'son,  evidently  worn  down  by  her  continued  stinaggle  to 
support  herself  and  family,  which  consisted  of  two  boys  and  three 
girls,  the  eldest  son  and  daughter  being  respectively  fourteen  and 
fifteen,  whence  their  ages  decreased  down  to  a  little  pale  thing  of 
four  years  old,  whose  juvenile  roses  coidd  not  bloom  for  want  of 
purer  air  and  more  nutritious  diet.  To  them,  with  the  greatest  tact 
and  kindness,  did  Kate  proceed  to  enact  the  character  of  guardian 
angel ;  and,  ere  she  had  been  half-an-hour  in  the  house,  had 
completely  won  all  their  affections,  from  the  poor  mother,  who  began 
to  see  light  breaking  in  upon  her  darkness,  to  the  olive-branch  of 
four — whose  visions  of  unlimited  sugar-plums  bade  fair  to  be  realized. 
Ah  !  it  is  easy  to  buy  golden  opinions  of  the  poor  and  needy  in  this 
world :  generosity,  i.e.,  judiciously  disposing  of  superfluous  cash,  is 
a  virtue  strangely  overrated.  The  widow's  mite  is  an  offering  for 
which  one  can  feel  respect,  even  -with  a  well-filled  stomach  ;  but  that 
shrine  for  an  Englishman's  heart  must  be  indeed  empty  ere  he  can 


"i/ 


244  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

himself  in  the  shadow  of  the  doorway  until  the  carriage  had  driven 
off  ?  He  starts  because  he  has  seen  the  woman  he  once  loved  better 
than  his  own  life — the  woman  he  has  striven  to  forgive  and  forget, 
and  has  succeeded  in  accomplishing  neither  the  one  nor  the  other — 
leave  a  shabby  house  in  a  disreputable  suburb,  whither  she  has  been 
in  the  society  of  a  notorious  libertine !  He  clfnched  his  fist  and 
strode  forward  from  an  impulse  of  rightful  indignation,  which  made 
him  burn  to  annihilate  the  scoundrel  who  stood  triumphing  in  his 
villainy  before  him :  but  he  checked  himself  as  the  bitter  remem- 
brance flashed  across  him  that  he  had  no  claim  on  her  which  could 
give  him  a  right  to  interfere,  although — and  this,  even  at  that 
moment,  was  the  most  painful  thought  of  all — another  had ! — who 
was  evidently  incompetent  to  fulfil  the  sacred  trust  which  he  had 
xmdertaken.  So,  with  old  wounds  thus  cruelly  reopened,  Arthur 
Hazlehurst,  heai't-sick  and  weary,  returned  to  his  chambers,  ponder- 
ing many  things,  both  of  this  life  and  of  the  life  to  come. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

ADVICE  GRATIS. 

It  is  a  dreary  thing  when  much  of  life  seems  still  before  us,  and  a 
dark,  unfathomable  f utiire  lies  between  lis  and  the  grave ;  it  is  a 
bitter  thing  to  sit  alone  and  ponder  on  the  days  to  come,  and 
discover  no  bright  spot  in  the  darkness — discern  no  kind  hand  to 
beckon  us  forward — hear  no  friendly  voice  to  counsel  and  encourage 
us  in  the  battle  of  life ;  it  is  an  uphill  task  to  struggle  through 
existence  without  an  object  on  this  side  the  tomb — a  hard  and  cruel 
lot  to  hope  for  nothing  until  death  shall  have  changed  hope  into 
f i-uition !  To  live  in  order  to  fit  oneself  to  die  is  the  duty  of  every 
Chi'istian,  but  to  live  for  that  alone  requires  a  far  higher  degi'ee  of 
sph-ituality  than  to  lay  do^vn  one's  life  for  the  faith  :  the  stake  and 
the  axe  of  persecution  are  tender  mercies  compai'ed  with  the  chronic 
martyrdom  of  such  a  life-long  sacrifice. 

Some  such  gloomy  thoughts  as  these  passed  through  the  over- 
wrought brain  of  Arthur  Hazlehurst  as,  late  in  the  night  after  Kate's 
visit  to  Mrs.  Leonard,  he  folded  up  the  last  document  of  which  he 
had  made  himself  master  relative  to  the  disputed  peerage  case  in 
which  he  was  retained.  The  evidence  of  which  he  had  that  day 
become  possessed  would,  he  felt  certain,  ensure  his  client's  success, 
in  which  event  his  own  career  would  in  all  probability  be  a  prosper- 
ous one,  and  fame  and  fortune  become  his  ;  but  how  worthless  did 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  245 

these  appear  now  they  could  no  longer  be  shared  with  her  he  loved. 
Until  the  incident  of  that  morning  had  so  powerfully  affected  him, 
he  hoped  that  he  had  in  gi-eat  measure  eradicated  this  affection, 
which  his  good  sense  enabled  him  to  perceive  could  only  be  a  source 
of  grief  to  him :  but  the  pain  he  had  then  experienced  effectually 
dispelled  the  illusian,  and  he  was  fain  to  acknowledge  that,  strongly 
as  he  condemned  her  conduct  in  sacrificing  his  deep  and  true  regard 
to  (as  he  deemed  it)  a  desire  for  wealth  and  the  pomps  and  vanities 
of  fashionable  life,  he  yet,  despite  his  reason,  loved  her  as  he  felt  he 
never  could  love  any  other  woman ;  and  the  thought  that  through 
her  husband's  neglect  and  incompetency  she  was  exposed  to  the 
insidious  advances  of  such  a  character  as  Horace  D'Almayne 
weighed  upon  him,  and  grieved  and  in-itated  him  until  he  could 
endure  it  no  longer.  "  C  >me  what  may  of  it,  I  will  see  her  and  warn 
her;  she  shall  not  be  led  on  by  that  scoundrel  without  knowing  his 
true  character !  "  he  exclaimed,  rising  and  hastily  pacing  the  room. 
"For  what  purpose  could  she  have  accompanied  him  to  such  a 
neighbourhood  as  that? "he  continued,  musing ;  "he  may  possibly 
have  got  up  some  plausible  lie  to  induce  her  to  do  so,  merely  to  com- 
promise her  in  the  eyes  of  her  husband— such  a  scheme  is  not 
unlikely  to  have  occun-ed  to  his  subtle  brain.  Yes,  come  what  may, 
I  will  see  her  to-morrow ;  and,  unless  she  is  indeed  lost  to  all  better 
feeling,  I  will  rouse  her  to  a  sense  of  duty,  and  thwart  that 
scoundrel's  designs.  If  her  husband  should  learn  my  interference, 
I  care  not ;  because,  in  his  incapacity,  he  neglects  the  sacred  tinist 
he  has  undertaken,  that  is  no  reason  why  I  should  stand  tamely  by 
and  see  her  sacrificed ;  no— I  will  save  her  in  spite  of  herself !  this 
shall  be  my  revenge  for  the  happiness  which  she  has  blighted.  God 
grant  my  interference  may  not  prove  too  late !  " 

His  mind  occupied  with  such  thoughts  as  these,  Ai-thur  Hazle- 
hurst  passed  a  sleepless  night,  and  the  first  moment  he  could  tear 
himself  away  from  business  on  the  following  day,  he  betook  himself 
to  Park  Lane.  Kate  was  from  home  when  he  an-ived ;  but  having 
notified  to  the  servant  his  intention  of  awaiting  her  return,  he  was 
shown  into  the  drawing-room,  where  he  foimd  a  tall,  fashionably, 
dressed  young  man  standing  in  a  disconsolate  attitude  by  the  fire- 
place, to  whom  he  made  a  slight  inclination  of  the  head,  heartily 
wishing  him  at  Jericho,  or  any  other  locality  equally  remote  from 
Park  Lane ;  then,  taking  up  a  book,  he  left  him  to  his  own  devices. 
Things  remained  in  this  thoroughly  English  and  unsociable  state 
for  about  ten  minutes,  towards  the  end  of  which  period  the 
fashionable  yoimg  man,  having  stared  hard  at  Hazlehurst,  grew 
first  interested,  then  excited,  and  finally  the  spirit  moved  him,  and 
he  spake : — 

"I  beg  pardon— a— really  I  don't  think  I  can  be  mistaken— a— 
very  absurd,  I'm  sure,  if  I  am — but  I  was  at  school  with  one  Arthur 
Hazlehurst — and — " 

"  And  I  am  he,"  was  the  reply ;  "but  you  have  the  advantage  of 


246  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

me ;  for  I  was  at  school  with  some  four  hundred  boys,  and,  to  tell 
you  the  honest  truth,  it  does  not  at  this  moment  occur  to  me  which 
of  them  you  may  have  been." 

"  Yet  Alfred  Courtland  has  to  thank  you  for  such  slight  skill  as  he 
may  possess  in  the  noble  ai-ts  of  boot-cleaning,  brushing  clothes,  and 
frying  sausages ;  besides  early  lessons  in  the  demolition  of  oysters 
and  poi-ter— enforced  by  example  rather  than  precept,"  was  the  re- 
joinder; and  the  unsocial  ice  of  Old  England  being  thus  broken,  the 
"  ci-devant "  schoolfellows  talked  on  until  they  grew  quite  intimate.  At 
length,Lord  Alfred  looked  at  his  watch,  was  silentand"  distrait "  fora 
minute  or  two,  then  began  in  a  timid,  hesitating  voice,  "  I  was  waiting 
here  to  see  Mrs.  Crane ;  but,  I  don't  know— that  is,  I  feel  as  if  I  could 
tell  you  all  about  it  quite  as  well ;  you  can  do  what  I  wish  better  than 
she  could ;  and  I  don't  think  you'll  be  angry  with  me  when  I've  made 
you  understand  the  affair." 

"  Suppose  you  come  to  the  point,  and  tiy  to  do  so  at  once,"  replied 
Arthur,  anxious  to  get  him  away,  if  possible,  before  Kate's  retiu-n. 

"  Well,  you  see,  my  dear  Hazlehurst,  I  wish  you  hadn't  been 
abroad,  and  then  you  would  have  understood  it  all  so  much  better ; 
but  since  you  went  away — though,  by  Jove,  now  I  come  to  think  of 
it,  I  saw  you  here  one  day  when  Coverdale  and  your  sister  first  came 
to  town— deuced  odd  I  didn't  make  you  out  then  ;  but  if  I  recollect, 
you  went  away  just  as  I  came  in — "  and  thus  rambling  on,  he  gave  a 
time  though  by  no  means  a  full  and  particular  account  of  his  intimacy 
with  the  Coverdales,  continuing  :  "  Your  sister  was  veiy  kind  to  me, 
and  took  so  much  trouble  about  our  duets.  She  pianos,  and  I  do  a 
little  in  a  mild  way  on  the  flute,  you  know,  and  we  were  gi'eat  friends, 
and  got  on  very  serenely  until  the  other  night,  when  I  was  fool 
enough  to  do,  or  rather  to  say,  something  which  made  her  angry — a 
good  right  she  had  to  be  so  ;  but  the  fact  is,  I'd  had  some  men  dining 
with  me,  and  we  drank  a  lot  of  wine,  and  then  sat  down  to  cards,  and 
I  lost  my  money  and  my  temper,  and  in  this  frame  of  mind  I  met  Mrs. 
Coverdale  at  Lady  Tattersall  Trottemout's  '  let  off,'  and  she  snubbed 
me— I  dare  say  I  deserved  it,  but  I  didn't  like  it ;  and,  as  my  evil  genius 
would  have  it,  a  man  I  know  related  to  me  a  tale  in  regard  to  her 
husband's  flii'tations  with  a  pretty  governess  in  Italy,  and  to  tease  her 
I,  like  a  fool,  must  needs  go  and  repeat  it  to  her ;  and  she  took  it  more 
seriously  to  heart  than  I  had  expected,  and  was  angiy  with  me,  and 
— but  I  see  you  are  getting  impatient — " 

"  Not  at  all,  not  at  all,"  returned  Arthur,  who,  preoccupied  with  his 
own  cares  and  anxieties,  and  nervous  in  regard  to  the  approaching 
interview  with  his  cousin,  scarcely  heard  or  understood  half  Lord 
Alfred  was  saying,  and  was  only  desirous  to  get  rid  of  him  before 
Kate  should  arrive  ;  "  no ;  it's  merely  a  legal  habit  I've  fallen  into  of 
ti-ying  to  bring  people  to  the  point  with  as  little  delay  as  possible. 
Yes ;  I  quite  understand— Alice  told  her  husband  of  your  flirting  with 
a  pretty  govei-ness,  and  he  said  something  which  offended  you." 

"  No ;  it  was  I  who  told  the  stoi-y,'"  interrupted  Lord  Alfred,  aghast 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  247 

at  the  state  of  confusion  his  auditor  appeared  to  have  fallen  into,  and 
from  which  he  immediately  endeavoured  to  extricate  him  by  com- 
mencing a  long  explanation. 

Obliged  in  self-defence  to  attend,  Arthur  soon  found  out  that  Lord 
Alfred's  object  in  his  ill-timed  confidence  was  to  ask  him  to  convey 
his  apologies  to  his  sister,  whenever  he  might  be  wi-iting  to  her; 
whereupon,  considering  the  whole  affair  a  mei*e  silly,  boyish  pimctilio, 
he  replied, — 

"  If  you'll  take  my  advice,  my  Lord,  I  should  say,  get  a  sheet  of  rose- 
scented  paper  and  a  diamond-pointed  pen  " — (a  sheet  of  foolscap  and 
a  goose-quill  would  be  more  appropriate,  was  his  mental  commen- 
tary)— "  and  sit  down  and  write  yoiu'  penitence  to  the  fair  lady  yoiir- 
self .  Alice  must  be  greatly  altered  for  the  worse  if  she  does  not  grant 
you  a  ready  pardon." 

'*  But  do  you  really  think — "  began  Lord  Alfred,  in  remonstrance. 

Arthur  cut  him  short — "  I  don't  think  about  it,  my  dear  Courtland ; 
I  feel  as  certain  of  the  result  as  if  I  had  already  seen  her  answer.  Do 
you  suppose  I  don't  know  my  own  sister,  man  ?  But,  to  come  to  the 
point,  here's  her  address  ;  "  he  drew  a  card  from  his  pocket,  hastily 
scribbled  a  few  words,  then  handing  it  to  Lord  Alfred,  continued, 
"  and  the  sooner  you  go  to  your  club  and  write  the  letter,  the  sooner 
will  your  mind  be  at  ease." 

Puzzled,  confused,  half -alarmed  and  half -pleased  with  the  new  idea 
thus  forced  upon  him,  one  thing  alone  seemed  clear  to  the  bewildered 
yoimg  nobleman,  viz.  that  for  some  reason  unexplained  his  old  new 
acquaintance  was  desii'ous  of  getting  rid  of  him ;  and,  not  having  yet 
sufficiently  acquired  the  habits  and  feelings  of  a  man-about-town  to 
be  utterly  regardless  of  the  wishes  of  others,  he  shook  Arthur's  hand, 
promised  to  act  upon  his  advice,  and  departed. 

He  had  scarcely  been  gone  five  minutes  when  a  thundering  knock 
at  the  house-door  announced  that  its  mistress  had  returned,  and  ere 
Arthur  had  time  to  do  more  than  spring  to  his  feet,  Kate,  attired  in 
the  richest  and  most  becoming  out-of-doors  costume,  entered.  As  she 
perceived  who  was  her  guest,  she  started,  and  her  colour  went  and 
came  rapidly ;  but  I'^covering  herself  by  a  powerful  effort,  she 
advanced  towards  him,  and,  extending  her  hand,  obseiwed, — 

"  You  are  such  an  unaccustomed  visitor,  that  I  could  scarcely 
believe  my  eyes.  When  did  you  return  from  the  Continent  ?  I 
am  afraid  you  expected  to  find  Alice  here,  biit  she  and  Mr.  Coverdale 
left  me  some  days  since." 

"  I  returned  the  day  before  yesterday,"  was  the  reply, "  and  found  a 
note  from  Coverdale,  informing  me  they  had  left  town ;  my  visit  here 
to-day  is  to  yourself." 

As  he  uttered  the  last  words,  his  voice  unconsciously  assumed  a 
stenier  tone,  and  a  shade  came  across  his  careworn  features.  An  idea 
suddenly  flashed  into  Kate's  mind,  and  in  a  voice  which  sufficiently 
attested  her  alarm,  she  exclaimed, — 

"  Something  is  the  matter !    I  was  sure  of  it  the  moment  I  saw  you. 


248  HARRY  CO VERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

Yov  would  not  come  here"— (she  unconsciously  emphasized  the 
words  in  small  capitals)—"  unless  such  were  the  case.  What  is  it  ?  I 
am  strong,  I  can  bear  it— is  my  father  worse  ?— dying  ?  " 

As  she  spoke  she  sank  into  a  chair,  and  fixing  her  eyes  upon  his 
face,  awaited  his  reply. 

"  You  alarm  yourself  imnecessarily,"  he  said  calmly,  almost  coldly; 
"  I  am  the  bearer  of  no  ill  tidings  :  that  I  have  an  object  in  visiting 
you  I  do  not  deny;  whether  you  will  consider  it  a  justifiable  one  I 
know  not ;  I  regard  it  in  the  light  of  a  duty,  and  therefore,  even  at  the 
risk  of  paining  and  offending  you.  it  must  be  performed."  He  paused 
for  a  reply,  but  as  Kate  remained  silent,  he  continued:  "Your 
brothers  are  mere  boys,  your  father  a  confirmed  invalid;  circum- 
stances lead  me  to  doubt  whether  your— whether  Mr.  Crane  is  aware  of 
the  character  of  a  person  who  is,  I  am  grieved  to  find,  a  constant 
visitor  at  this  house;  and  I  therefore  conceive  I  have  a  duty  to  dis- 
charge to  one  whom  I  have  known  from  childhood — one  in  whose 
welfare  an  in-evocable  past,  which  cannot  be  forgotten  while 
memory  remains,  forces  me  to  interest  myself.  Kate,  I  am  here  to 
warn  you  against  the  insidious  advances  of  that  heai-tless  profligate, 
Horace  D'Almayne ! " 

As  he  spoke,  he  fixed  his  eyes  upon  her  with  a  searching  glance. 
Kate  coloured,  drew  herself  up  haughtily,  and  appeai-ed  about  to  make 
an  angry  reply ;  cheeking  the  impulse  almost  as  it  arose,  she 
answered, — 

"  I  am  bound,  and  indeed  most  willing  to  believe,  you  mean  kindly 
by  me ;  I  will  therefore  explain  to  you  that  which  I  would  not  have 
condescended  to  explain  to  any  other  man  living— that  I  merely  admit 
Mr.  D'Almayne's  intimacy  to  oblige  my  husband,  who  has  become  so 
accustomed  to  his  society  and  services  as  to  consider  them  indispen- 
sable. Mr.  D  Almayne  may  or  may  not  deseiwe  the  harsh  epithets 
you  apply  to  him ;  but  if  you  are  aware  of  any  circumstances  seriously 
affecting  his  character,  it  is  to  Mi*.  Crane  you  should  mention  them, 
not  to  me." 

For  a  moment  Ai-thur  remained  silent,  then  pressing  his  hand  to 
his  forehead,  he  murmured  inaudibly,  "  She  can  actually  stoop 
to  deceit ! — is  such  a  change  possible !  " 

Surprised  and  hurt  at  his  silence,  Kate  resumed  :  "  Why  do  you  not 
speak  ?    You  look  at  me  as  if  you  doubted  my  assertion  !  " 

Unheeding  her  question,  Arthur  still  continued  to  regard  her  with 
an  expression  in  which  grief,  surprise,  and  disapproval  contended  for 
the  mastei^y.  At  length  he  said,  in  a  low,  deep  voice,  which  caused  a 
shudder  to  pass  through  the  frame  of  his  auditor, — 

"  I  have  suffered  much  on  your  account,  but  such  pain  as  this  I 
never  thought  to  experience !  Kate,  you  once  said  you  had  never 
attempted  to  deceive  me — can  you  say  so  now  ?  " 

"  I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand  you,"  was  the  reply ;  and  as  she  grew 
angry  at  what  she  deemed  unmerited  insult,  her  self-possession 
retm-ned,  and  she  spoke  in  her  usual  cold,  hard  tone  of  voice.    "  I  can 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  249 

only  repeat  what  I  before  stated,  that  I  allow  Mr.  D'Almayne's  in- 
timacy  merely  to  obligre  my  husband.  From  yoiir  manner  you 
still  appear  to  doubt  the  fact— may  I  ask  why  ?  " 

Arthur  paused  a  moment,  then,  with  an  eager  and  excited  voice,  he 
exclaimed, — 

"  Kate,  hear  me !    I  have  not  taken  this  step  lightly,  or  without  due 
consideration.    I  seek  not  to  refer  to  the  past,  though  that  past  is 
never  absent  from  my  memory ;  but  you  may  imagine  it  cost  me  some 
resolution  to  come  here  to-day,  when  I  tell  you  that  I  had  rather  have 
seen  you  lying  dead  before  my  eyes,  feeling  towards  you  as  I  felt  one 
short  year  ago,  than  behold  you  sun-ounded  by  the  luxuries  of 
wealth-knowing  as  I  do  that  you  have  obtained  them  by  the  sacrifice 
of  all  that  is  lovable  in  woman,  by  sinning  against  all  your  best  and 
noblest    impulses,  by  forfeiting  all  that    renders  life  aught    but 
one  weary  endless  round  of  cares  and  duties  !    To  look  on  you  as  you 
ai-e  now— to  read,  as  I  can  read,  in  every  feature  of  your  countenance, 
which,  though  a  sealed  book  to  others,  I  have  studied  too  long  not  to 
decipher  at  a  glance,  traces  of  that  desolation  of  heart  which  you  have 
prepared  for  yourself-to  see  you  thus,  and  to  know  that  I  am 
powerless  to  help  you,  and  that  you  must  sustain  the  burden  of  such 
an  'existence  unaided,  is  to  me  bitter  pain,  and  I  have  avoided 
this  house  as  though  it  were  plague-stricken.    But  as  I  sat  through 
the  long  hours  last  night,  striving  to  weigh  dispassionately  the  past 
and  the  present,  I  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  even  yet  I  owed  you 
a  duty,  and  I  came  here  to-day  actuated  only  by  a  desire  to  warn  you, 
and  to  save  you  from  a  fate,  to  contemplate  the  mere  possibility  of 
which   inspires  me  with  hoiTor.    I  came,  regardless  of  my  own 
feelings,  forgetful  of  my  wrongs,  to  do  you  a  benefit;  ana  now  you 
close  your  soul  against  me,  and  receive  me  with  hard  words  and  cold 
looks  !    Kate,  I  have  not  deserved  this  at  your  hands  !  " 

"But,  indeed— believe  me  you  are  mistaken,"  replied  Kate, 
eagerly ;  "  I  appreciate  and  thank  you  for  the  interest  you  still  take 
in  one  who,  as  you  truly  say,  has  forfeited  eveiy  claim  on  your 
regard  ;  but  your  fears  and  suspicions  are  groundless— the  intimate 
footing  Mr.  D'Almayne  has  attained  in  this  house  is  merely  a 
natural  consequence  of  the  trust  Mr.  Crane  reposes  in  him.  Why 
will  you  not  believe  the  truth  of  what  I  tell  you  ?  " 

"Because  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  do  so  without  doubting  the 
evidence  of  my  own  senses,"  was  the  stem  reply.    "  If  you  require 

any  further  reason  for  my  scepticism  it  is  this  :  I  was  in Street, 

Pentonville,  at  two  o'clock  yesterday  !  " 

"And  if  you  were,"  rejoined  Kate,  with  flashing  eyes,  "  you  saw 
nothing  to  justify  you  in  entertaining  such  a  cruel  and  unjust 
suspicion  of  one  whom  you  should  have  been  the  last  to  believe 
likely  to  sacrifice  anything  for  love ;  and  whom  you  might  have 
known  better  than  to  deem  an  easy  prey  for  the  first  self-confident 
libertine  who  should  condescend  to  display  his  butterfly  attractions 
in  her  presence.    I  consider  that  you  have  insulted  me  deeply— so 


HARRY  COVRDALE'S  CO 

Yov  would  not  come  here  —(she 
words  in  small  capitals) — "  u 
am  strong,  I  can  bear  it — ii 

As  she  spoke  she  sank 
face,  awaited  his  reply. 

"  Tou  alarm  yoursel 
"  I  am  the  bearer  of 
you  I  do  not  deny  ; 
know  not ;  I  regar 
risk  of  paining  an; 
for  a  reply,  bn 
brothers  are 
stances  lead  m 
the  characte; 
visitor  at  t 
charge  to 
welfare 
memory 
wam  y 
Hora< 

A 


ly  uarnit 

me  so 

indi«j)ea> 

e  harsh  epithet* 

I  <um8tance8  8erioai»ly 

i  bliuuld  mention  them. 

pressing  his  hand  to 
e    can  actually  stoop 

rvate  resumed  :  "  Why  do  yon  not 
ou  doubted  my  assertion  !  " 
5n,      iiur  still  continued  to  regard  her  with 
grit       rprise,  and  disapproval  contended  for 
he    d,  in  a  low,  deep  voice,  which  caused  a 
h  the  lame  of  his  auditor,— 
.^red  much  o  your  account,  but  such  pain  as  this  I 
it  to  experienc !     Kate,  you  once  said  yon  had  never 
)  deceive  me — 02.  you  say  so  now  ? '' 

a  loss  to  understid  you,"  was  the  reply ;  and  as  she  grew 

wLat  she  deeme  unmerited  insult,  her  self-poeseseion 

md  she  spoke  in  h-  usual  cold,  hard  tone  of  voice.    "  I  can 


r:: 


v^  w 


ft  ..^ 


k«> 


•^ir* 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  231 

invested  «s  mt\e  aM,  at  f.ti^ZZZTjT,  ^^^oTltt  It 

those  who  had  not,  he  rather  prefened  beiag  insolrent-  and  pa^ 

worltoff"f  T  ^7--' T^'""'"^  himself  best  oft  when  he T^ 
voi-t  off-for  then  he  was  obliged  to  exert  all  his  energies  to  ensnm 

pro  ilT  T"  ^""^  *"'*  *■""  "^  °™  »''°"1-1  -lax  its^ti"  s ": 
provide  for  his  necessities.  ^^^i^oS  to 

Thus  on  the  vei-y  day  on  wHch  Arthur  Hazlehurst  had  his  un 
satis  actory  interview  with  Kate  Crane,  the  husband  of  that  pJud 
beauty  met  by  appointment,  at  an  office  not  far  from  the  Royal 
Exchange,  Monsieixr  Guillemai-d,-Mr.  Vondenthaler  a  BeS 
capital.t,-Mr^BonusNu.,et,a  man  well  known  upok 'Chl^'^- 
n  Alnmjne.  Mr.  Crane  havmg  seated  himself,  after  undergoing  the 
mTXr 'of  tif  "'r'"\*^  Mr.  Yondenthaler,who  wasThe^oL, 

prreer/sbyXr^W^^^^^^    ""    '^"  ^'^'"^^^^  ^^^^^^  ''^ 
"  Well,  gentlemen,  I  am  glad  to  tell  you  that  everything  is  pro 

Ih^d  th  \'  "'  '"^l'/^^''  ''^^  '^^*  ™y  1----  calcu'latiofs  wMch 
I  had  the  honour  of  laying  before  you  at  our  last  meeting,  appear 

infoims  me  that  the  apphcations  for  shares  from  the  principal 

O  Bnen  wiU  tell  you  the  same  in  regard  to  their  own  connection     Is 
it  not  so,  Captam  ?  " 

r.1  ^l^^i'  ^""^^^  '":  *^.^°'"  '■"P""'^  *^^  gentleman  thus  Boosted,  who 
possibly,  from  his  having  mixed  so  much  with  the  aristocra;y  o^ 
Eniope  generally,  spoke  with  a  strong  Irish  accent.  "Bedad  sir 
the  way  they  come  tumbling  in  is  perfectly  astonishing;  'tis  upo^' 
me  conscience !  '  "^'^" 

"  The  only  thing  that  remains  then,  before  we  proceed  to  issue  the 
shares  and  receive  deposits,  is  to  decide  how  many  we  shall  aUot  to 

wd:^i^.Ta:rafhl;r'^^^'^^^^^^^ 

fiv^tx^^ittTcre^ "-'''  '^ ""'-'-- '  -^^  -^-* 

." '  ;^^'  ^'*  ^"^  ' '  ^^*  ^l^^ll  be  him,"  muttered  Mr.  Vondenthaler. 
]..         ^      f^        ^  *^^*  '^°'^'"  exclaimed  the  Captain,  "if  you 
leave  a  thundering  wide  margin  for  the  shares  we  may  retaii  for  our 
friends;  for,  to  be  plain  with  ye,  gentlemen,  my  best  friend  in  the 


252  HARRY  COVERDALES  COURTSHIP 

world,  and  that's  Terence  O'Brien,  means  to  go  in  for  this  business 
in  real  earnest;  and  if  I  can't  invest  capital  that  will  take  five 
figures  to  write,  bedad  I'd  rather  be  out  of  it  altogether." 

"Ten  thousand,  which  I  presume  is  the  sum  you  hint  at.  Captain 
O'Brien,  could  not,  I  think,  be  objected  to,"  observed  Mr.  Bonus 
Nugget,  as  if  .£10,000  were  a  mere  cab-fai-e. 

"' Mais  oui,' we  will  all  demand  so  much  as  him,  he  is  so  small; 
'  n'est-ce  pas,  mon  cher '  ?  "  interposed  Monsieur  Guillemard,  favour- 
ing Horace  D'Almayne  with  a  grimace  indicative  of  the  tenderest 
affection. 

"  If  I  might  be  allowed— if  I  might  venture  to  suggest,"  began 
Mr.  Crane,  timidly,  "  I  would  propose  that,  at  so  early  a  stage  in  the 
affair,  no  limit  should  be  placed  to  the  number  of  shares  the 
directors  may  hold.  I  am,  ahem !  a— myself  I  am  a  man  who 
has  been  tolerably  fortunate  in  my  commercial  speculations,  and 
might  be  disposed— in  fact.  I  may  say  I  am  disposed— to  embark  an 
amount  of  capital  considerably  above  the  sum  lately  mentioned  by 
Captain  O'Brien." 

"  Sir !  your  sentiments  do  you  honour  !  Sir.  I'm  proud  of  your 
acquaintance ;  you're  not  one  to  do  things  by  halves,  I  see.  I  like 
plain  speaking — the  speculation's  a  da-vlish  good  speculation,  or  you 
would  not  find  such  men  as  Mr.  Vondenthaler  and  my  fiiend  Bonus 
Nugget  in  it.  We're  going  to  give  our  valuable  time  and  trouble  to 
work  the  thing  ship-shape ;  and  bedad,  sir,  if  we're  not  to  profit  by 
it,  I'd  jist  like  to  know  who  should !  " 

"  Yes,  that  is  aU  vei-y  well  for  you,  O'Brien,"  observed  Mr.  Nugget, 
speaking  with  an  air  of  authority ;  "  but  I  happen  to  know  a  thing 
or  two.  Mr.  Crane,  gentlemen,  is — I  say  it  to  his  face — able  to  go 
doviTi  to  his  bankers,  and  draw  a  cheque,  which  they  will  honoiu',  for 
more  money  than  any  two  of  us  could  raise  between  us.  Vei^y  well ; 
now,  it's  no  news  to  any  of  us  to  be  told  that '  money  is  power.'  But  if 
Mr.  Crane  thinks,  because  he  can  embark  his  ,£50,000, — or  I  believe 
I  might  raise  the  figure  as  high  again  without  overstating  the 
matter, — that  he  is  going  to  ride  rough-shod  over  the  practical  men 
who  have  started  this  scheme,  and  to  take  the  lion's  share  of  the 
enormous  profits  that  he  is  sharp  enough  to  foresee  must  accrue,  I 
for  one  beg  to  tell  him  I  won't  stand  it." 

"  Ta  !  ya !  '  das  ist  gut ' !  Ye  have  not  started  to  be  shod  rough  by 
Cranes !  Herr  Bonus  he  knows  a  thing !  'das  ist  recht  und  gut ' !  Ve 
vill  not  be  roughed  by  Cranes !  "  muttered  Mr.  Vondenthaler  through 
the  thick  hay-colom-ed  moustachios  invariably  worn  by  Belgian 
capitalists. 

"  '  Mais  oui,'  you  have  reasons,  Monsieur  Vondenthaler, '  mon  ami ' : 
but  if  you  yourself  have  mistaken,  '  n'est-ce  pas '  ? "  interposed 
Monsieur  Guillemard,  eagerly.  "  I  am  assured  Monsieur  Crane  is 
not '  vm  homme  comme  ga  ' ;  he  shall  not '  se  promener  a  cheval ' — vot 
you  call  ride  on  a  horseback  ovaire  us  '  du  tout ' ;  'an  contraire,'  zies 
grate  skim  whom  we  are  zie  undairetakers  for,  shall  advance  herself 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  233 

on  his  capital  for  zie  goods  of  us  all.  '  Voyez  vous,  clier  Monsieur 
Bonous ' ! " 

"  Ton  me  conscience,  now  ye're  the  first  set  of  men  I  ever  yet 
clapped  eyes  on  that  made  a  fuss  about  taking  money  when  it  was 
offered  to  'em ! "  exclaimed  the  Hon.  Captain  O'Brien,  sui-prised  into 
a  stronger  brogue  than  he  had  yet  allowed  to  appear.  "  Sure,  now, 
by  the  time  we've  tunnelled  imder  the  whole  of  Arabia  Pethreea,  and 
flimg  our  Britannia-metal  tubular  bridge  across  the  Persian  Gulf, 
we'll  find  money  growing  pretty  tight  with  us." 

"  As  there  seems  some  difference  of  opinion  on  the  point," 
returned  Mr.  Bonus  Nugget,  "  I  would  suggest  that  we  summon  a 
general  meeting  of  all  the  directors,  and  appoint  a  managing 
committee  to  decide  such  matters  for  the  future." 

This  proposition  was  agreed  to  "  nem.  con  ,"and  a  day  having  been 
fixed  for  their  next  meeting,  D'Almayne  began  : — 

'*  In  my  capacity  as  secretary,  I  have  to  call  your  attention  to  one 
point  before  this  meeting  breaks  up.  I  have,  in  accordance  with  a 
resolution  passed  at  the  last  board,  gone  into  the  current  outlay,  and 
find  that  to  pay  the  engineers  now  sui-veying  the  portion  of  the  line 
already  decided  on,  and  other  expenses  which  I  will  not  detain  you 
by  enumerating,  the  account  at  our  bankers  is  overdrawn.  I  would 
propose,  therefore,  that  two  of  the  directors  should  sign  a  cheque  for 
jBSOOO,  to  be  placed  to  the  company's  credit." 

"Better  say  five,"  interposed  Nugget;  "it  don't  do  to  be  over- 
drawing our  accoimt ;  I've  known  a  trifle  like  that  ruin  a  speculation 
as  promising  even  as  the  present  one.  Don't  let  this  occur  again, 
D'Almayne ;  I  can  let  you  have  money  at  any  moment,  as  you  are 
well  aware." 

"  Ya !  ya  !  or  I,  vin  you  please  ;  you  must  not  stance  him  for  no 
accounts,"  chimed  in  the  Belgian  capitalist. 

"  Certainly,  ^£5000  should  be  paid  in  at  once,"  obsei*ved  Mr.  Crane, 
producing  a  cheque-book.  "  I  shall  have  much  pleasure  in  advancing 
the  sum,  if  you  gentlemen  will  sanction  my  so  doing." 

This  both  Nugget  and  the  Belgian  protested  against,  each  urging 
their  claims  as  oi'iginators  of  the  scheme  ;  but  O'Brien  silenced  their 
opposition,  and  settled  the  matter  by  exclaiming  in  his  off-hand 
manner, — 

"  Let  Mr.  Crane  have  his  way,  sir ! — he's  a  fine  fellow  entirely— a 
liberal  and  enlightened  man  he  is— one  of  the  merchant  princes 
of  this  great  counthry ;  •  and  though  I'd  the  misfortune  to  be  born  an 
aristoci'at  myself,  I've  no  class  bigotiy  about  me.  I  admire  a. 
true  Briton  when  I  meet  with  one ;  and  whoever  wishes  to  bully  and 
browbeat  that  Briton  in  my  presence,  must  do  it  some  time  when 
Terence  O'Brien  isn't  there  to  stand  up  for  him.  Shake  hands,  Mr. 
Crane— I'm  proud  to  know  you.  Take  this  pen  and  write,  sir! 
Browbeat  a  man  like  that,  indeed ! — 'pon  my  conscience,  what  next,  I 
wonder ! " 

And  so,  under  cover  of  the  Captain's  blustering,  Mr.  Crane  signed 


254  HARRY   CO VERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

a  cheque  for  £5000,  for  wliicli  D'Almayne  grave  him  a  receipt  in  the 

name  of  the  company  ;  then  howinf?  to  his  co-directors,  and  exchang- 
ing  a  word  or  two  aside  with  D'Almayne,  he  depai-ted.  As  the  sound 
of  his  retreatiuff  footsteps  died  away  in  the  distance,  D'Almayne, 
quietly  pocketing  the  cheque,  observed,— 

"  If  we  can  but  get  the  shares  to  sell  for— say  twenty  thousand,  the 
speculation  will  not  pay  badly.  You  see,  Guillemard,  these  crafty 
islanders- these  denizens  of  '  perfide  Albion  ' — their  pockets  are  not 
impregnable  when  you  assault  them  judiciously.  Five  thousand 
pounds  from  one  man  is  not  such  a  bad  morning's  work  !  '* 

"  Tlu'ue  for  you,  me  boy!"  exclaimed  the  Irishman:  "by  the 
powers,  a  few  more  such  mornings'  work  will  make  men  of  us,  if  it 
please  Providence  to  keep  us  out  of  jail  so  long ;  but  it's  a  dangerous 
game  you're  playing.  Sure,  now,  there's  jist  five  of  us  here  present 
— why  wouldn't  we  take  a  thousand  a-piece,  and  make  ourselves 
scarce  without  any  more  ado  ?    I'm  content  for  one,  bedad." 

"  You'll  do  nothing  of  the  soi-t,  Terence,"  was  the  reply  :  "  for  two 
very  good  reasons  :  one  Ijeing,  that  if  you  remain  quiet  and  follow  my 
lead,  I  will  enable  you  to  bolt — if  it  come  to  bolting — with  X  10,000 
instead  of  one ;  and  the  other,  that  Mr.  Crane's  cheque  is  very  safely 
buttoned  up  in  my  pocket,  to  be  applied  as  I  think  best ;  and  any  man 
who  attempts  to  take  it  from  me  will  become  practically  acquainted 
with  the  merits  of  this  ingenious  little  instrument,"  and  as  he  spoke 
he  drew  from  his  breast-pocket  a  small,  beautifully-finished  revolving 
pistol,  whereupon  the  individual  termed  Nugget  interposed  by 
observing, — 

"  Nonsense,  D'Almayne,  put  that  thing  away :  we're  not  in 
New  Orleans,  man ;  and  the  report  of  that  would  blow  our  schemes  to 
the  devil  long  before  the  bullet  had  penetrated  O'Brien's  thick  skull. 
But  really  thei'e  is  nothing  to  disagree  about  that  I  can  see ;  it's  quite 
clear,  gentlemen,  that  D'Almayne  knows  perfectly  well  what  he's 
doing,  and  that  om-  interests  could  not  be  in  better  hands.    "We  meet 

again  on  Friday.    D'Almayne,  you'll  see  me  to-night  in  J Street ; 

and  now  that  we're  in  funds  again.  Ratrapski  will  be  as  'good  as 
a  fortune  to  us :  a  man  does  not  break  the  bank  twice."  Then, 
nodding  familiarly  to  the  others,  Mr.  Bonus  Nugget  resumed  his 
usual  "  City  "  look  (worth  five  hundred  a-year  to  him  at  the  most 
moderate  computation),  and  departed. 

"  Terence,  never  look  sulky,  man ;  I  meant  no  harm ;  what  I  said 
was  as  much  for  your  good  as  my  own,"  began  D'Almayne,  in  a  con- 
ciliatory tone.  "  Come,  I  want  you  and  Guillemard  to  dine  at  Black- 
wall,  to  meet  an  unfledged  lordling,  to  whom  I'll  allow  you  to  sell  a 
horse,  if  you  like ;  and  you  may  do  a  little  bit  of  '  turf  '  business  too, 
if  he'll  bite  ;  only  it  must  be  done  in  a  quiet,  gentlemanly  way.  mind, 
because  I've  ulterior  views  in  regard  to  my  young  friend  :  he  has  a 
taste  for  the  club  in  J Street— you  understand  ?  " 

"  I  believe  ye,  me  boy !  an  it's  a  fine  child  ye  are  intirely ;  and  the 
way  ye've  cut  yer  wisdom  teeth  is  a  credit  to  yer  blessed  mother  — 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  255 

always  supposing  ye  ever  possessed  sucli  a  respectible  relative,"  was 
the  Hibernian's  reply. 

'■  By  the  way,  if  you're  really  going  in  for  the  horse  business," 
resumed  D'Alaiayne,  meditatively,,"  you  may  as  well  do  the  thing 
properly.  Get  a  flash  trap,  you  know,  and  di-ive  us  do\vn;  and— 
who's  that  sporting-looking  young  fellow  you  had  backing  you 
at  Epsom — dark  cui-ly  hair,  and  grey  hawk's  eyes  ?  " 

''Oh,  Phil  Tirrett,  the  great  Yorkshire  breeder's  son;  he  is 
his  father's  London  agent,  and  a  very  promising  young — " 

"  Scoundrel,"  interposed  D'Almayne,  "  I  read  it  in  his  face.  How- 
ever, you'll  want  somebody  to  back  up  your  lies,  and  he'll  pass  with 
such  green  boys  as  we  shall  have  to-day ;  so  bring  him.  Let  me  see 
— it's  now  two  o'clock— call  for  me  at  the  Pandemonium  at  five  ;  and, 
excuse  me,  but  drop  the  Irish  blackguard,  and  assume  the  foreign 
militaire  as  much  as  you  conveniently  can.  Remember,  you're 
captain  in  the  Austrian  service,  and  I  was  in  youi*  regiment,  your 
sub.,  for  a  year." 

"  Bedad  I  it's  as  well  you  reminded  m^  of  that  same,  for  it 
had  slipped  my  memory  some  way,"  was  the  afEable  reply,  as,  ari-ang- 
ing  his  aubm-n,  not  to  say  red,  hair  under  his  hat,  the  gallant  Captain 
prepared  to  take  himself  off.  Ere  he  did  so,  however,  he  chanced  to 
cast  his  eyes  on  the  Belgian  capitalist,  who  was  amusing  his  leisure 
moments  by  performing  some  intricate  manoeuvres  with  a  pack 
of  cards,  an  occupation  which  he  interrupted  by  slapping  Vonden- 
thaler  on  the  back  with  such  force  that  a  covey  of  cards  flew  out  of 
the  pack  about  the  room. 

"  What  devil's  dodge  are  you  planning  there,  you  old  sinner  !  "  he 
exclaimed ;  "  let's  look  at  ye !  "  he  continued,  seizing  him  by  the  chin, 
and  turning  his  head  so  that  the  light  fell  upon  his  countenance ; 
"  bedad  !  them  moustachios  alter  you  sui-pi-ising  !  Nobody  that  had 
not  known  ye  as  I've  done,  since  I. could  liandle  a  dice-box,  and  that 
was  before  I  was  into  me  teens,  would  recognize  in  Mr.  Vondenthaler, 
the  Belgian  merchant,  Le  Roux  the  old  croupier  !  " 

"Leave  him  alone,"  observed  D'Almayne;  "Le  Roux's  a  steady, 
sensible  man,  and  one  I  have  a  great  respect  for;  he  knows  his  work, 
and  does  it  well  and  quietly  ;  and  I'd  back  his  long  head  against  your 
noisy  talent  (for  the '  gift  of  the  gab,'  as  you  term  it,  is  a  noisy  talent 
and  a  dangerous  one)  any  day.  Captain."  Then,  turning  to  Le  Roux, 
he  said — "  The  bank  will  reopen  to-night,  and  we  shall  be  there  in 
force.  Mind  the  champagne's  better  than  the  last  batch.  Let  every- 
thing be  in  first-rate  style,  and  spare  no  expense.  Guillemard,  you 
heard  the  rendezvous  ?    Five  o'clock,  monsieurs, '  au  revoir.'  " 

So  saying,  D'Almayne  bowed  with  as  much  scrupulous  politeness 

to  the  worshipful  fraternity  of men  of  science  he  was  quitting, 

as  if  he  had  been  leaving  the  council-chamber  of  a  prince.  Calling 
a  hansom  cab,  this  industrious  and  zealous  young  man  di'ove  to  his 
■west-end  lodgings,  and  exchanging  his  suit  of  quiet  black,  in  which 
he  had  dressed  the  man-of -business  character  he  had  been  pleased  to 


25«  HARRY  COVERDALES  COURTSHIP 

enact,  for  more  butterfly  garments,  went  down  to  a  certain  fashion- 
able club,  where  he  felt  sure  of  meeting  Lord  Alfred  Courtland,  and 
found  him  accordingly,  but  by  no  means  in  the  amiable,  docile  frame 
of  mind  in  which  he  usually  rejoiced.  The  hour  preceding  that  at 
which  D'Almayne  entered  the  club  had  been  spent  by  Lord  Alfred 
in  concocting,  pursuant  to  Arthur  Hazlehurst's  advice,  a  penitent 
letter  to  Alice  Coverdale — a  composition  which  had  cost  him  much 
trouble  and  anxiety,  and  wherein  he  had  endeavoured  in  some 
measure  to  justify  himself,  by  shifting  as  much  of  the  blame  as  he 
truthfully  could  on  to  the  shoulders  of  Horace  D'Almayne ;  and  he  had 
just  closed  and  disi)atched  this  accusatory  epistle,  when,  as  though  to 
overwhelm  him  with  shame  at  such  a  betrayal  of  one  who  professed 
himself,  and  whom  in  gi-eat  measure  he  still  believed  to  be  his  friend, 
his  aspersed  mentor  seated  himself  opposite  to  him,  and  addressing 
him  by  his  usual  endearing  epithet  of  "  mon  cher,"  invited  him  to 
dine  with  him  that  day,  and  meet  a  few  choice  spirits  at  Blackwall. 

"  You're  vei"y  kind,  bxit  you  really  must  excuse  me,"  was  Lord 
Alfred's  reply.  "  I've  been  knocking  about  a  good  deal  lately,  and 
begin  to  want  a  little  quiet." 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  was  D'Almayne's  rejoinder  :  "  such  is  always  one's 
morning  theory — but  one  never  puts  it  into  practice ;  when  eight 
o'clock  comes, '  il  faut  diner ' !  Seriously,  however,  I  can't  let  you  off. 
1  have  asked  two  or  three  men  to  meet  you.  who  are  most  anxious  to 
make  your  acquaintance " — (this  was  strictly  true), — "and  who  will 
be  aAvfully  savage  if  you  don't  come." 

"  Come — of  course  hell  come,  and  so  will  I  too,  if  anybody  will 
ask  me,  and  there's  a  lark  in  hand — what  does  Milton  say  r* — 

'  A  bird  in  hand  is  better  far. 
Than  two  that  in  the  bu.shea  are.' 

Fine  poem,  *  Paradise  Lost.'  By  the  way,  did  you  ever  hear  my  riddle 
on  that  head  ?  Why  is  the  fact  of  the  contents  of  a  backgammon- 
board  having  been  thi'own  out  of  the  window  like  Milton's  '  chef- 
d'ceuvi*e '  ?  Do  you  give  it  up  ?  Because  it's  a  pair  o'  dice  lost. 
None  so  dusty  that— eh  ?  for  a  commoner  like  me  ?  We  poor  devils 
that  have  to  gr-ind  all  day  to  procure  oiu*  modest  chop  and  our  un- 
assuming pint  of  London  porter,  can't  be  expected  to  say  such 
brilliant  things  as  you  noble  swells,  who  have  had  nothing  to  do 
but  cultivate  your  understandings  ever  since  you  came  into  the 
world  with  gold  spoons  in  your  mouths.  But  you  have  not  told  me 
what's  up  yet." 

Here  the  speaker,  who  was  none  other  than  the  facetious  Jack 
Beaupeep,  paused  for  want  of  bi-eath,  and  DAlmayne  interposed 
with  a  reply  to  his  question, — 

"  The  pai-ticular  event  exalted  at  the  moment  you  joined  us  is  a 
bachelor  dinner  at  Blackwall  to-day,  for  which  I  am  trying  to  beat 
up  a  few  recruits  ;  let  me  hope  you  will  enlist  under  my  banner,  and, 
with  such  a  reinforcement,  I  am  sure  Lord  Alfred  will  surrender  at 
discretion." 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  257 

"  All  serene ! "  rejoined  the  voluble  Jack ;  "  I  was  '  to  let  un- 
f uraislied '  (with  a  dinner) — and  let  me  tell  you  a  Blackwall  feed  is 
a  special  mercy  that's  not  to  be  sneezed  at.  Come,  Alfred,  my  boy, 
merge  the  haughty  noble  in  the  jolly-good-fellow  till  further  notice, 
and  say  '  I  will.'  " 

"  Have  it  your  own  way.  Since  you're  both  determined  on  my 
capture,  it's  hopeless  to  resist,"  said  Lord  Alfred,  his  feeble  attempt 
at  reformation  completely  defeated;  *' but  I  certainly  had  made  up 
my  mind  to  spend  a  quiet  evening." 

"  So  had  I,"  returned  Jack ;  "  but  then  I  did  not  expect  such  luck 
as  to  come  in  for  a  noisy  one.    What  time,  and  where  do  we  meet  ?  " 

"  At  the  Pandemonium,  at  five  o'clock,"  was  D'A.lmayne's  reply ; 
"  and  mind  you  are  both  punctual." 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

EATING    WHITEBAIT. 

Nero  fiddled  while  Rome  blazed  !  We  possess  the  record  of  the  main 
fact,  but  all  details  connected  with  that  memorable  perfonnance 
have  perished  in  the  lapse  of  ages.  We  can  imagine,  however,  that 
the  novelty  and  horrid  grandeur  of  the  situation  by  no  means  inter- 
fered with  the  skill  and  execution  of  the  imperial  amateur;  but 
rather  added  a  force  and  brilliancy  to  his  playing,  for  which  it  may 
not  have  been  usually  remarkable.  If  he  had  at  all  a  tui*n  for  im- 
provisation, an  opportunity  then  offered  for  his  making  a  great  hit ; 
the  roaring  of  the  flames,  the  crash  of  falling  buildings,  the  coai-se 
huighter  of  a  biaital  soldiery,  mingling  with  the  shrieks  of  women  and 
children,  and  with  the  shouts  changing  to  the  half-curse,  half-prayer, 
of  the  death  agony  of  brave,  true-hearted  men,  striving  to  rescue  the 
helpless  ones,  and  perishing  in  the  exei'cise  of  their  noble  daring, 
all  must  have  afforded  a  sviggestive  theme  for  the  crescendo  and 
diminuendo  of  the  tyrant's  catgut,  which  may  have  been  handed 
down  to  posterity,  until  the  tradition  may  have  furnished  the  thesis 
of  that  classic  and  artistic  composition,  the  "  Battle  of  Prague." 

Everybody  considers  Nero  a  hateful  tyrant,  and  everybody  may  be 
in  the  main  right ;  although  good  Dr.  Goldsmith,  in  his  interesting 
Roman  history  (which  has  been  pei^petually  "  abridged  for  the  use  of 
schools  "  ever  since  it  was  wi'itten,  and  is  not  half  short  enough  yet), 
has  probably  applied  too  deep  a  coating  of  lampblack  even  to  Nero. 
But,  though  as  manners  and  customs  change,  the  outward  seeming 


258  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

of  things  varies  with  them,  human  nature,  too  bad  ever  to  be  all 
good,  and  too  good  to  be  all  bad,  remains  much  the  same,  despite  the 
preaching  of  Paul  and  the  watering-pot  of  Apollos. 

Thus,  while  in  the  heart  of  mighty  London  vice  filled  model  prisons 
with  tlie  recklessly  depraved,  or,  far  worse,  the  recklessly  hypocritical 
—while  hospital  wards  teemed  with  those  comparatively  fortunate 
victims  of  disease  and  improvidence  whom  some  good  Samaritaji  had 
thus  far  rescued,  when  a  frightful  majority  were  dying  untended  in 
reeking  alleys  and  other  hotbeds  of  pestilence— while  covetousnesa 
and  hatred  were  scarcely  restrained  from  breaking  forth  into  rapine 
and  murder  by  the  strong  arm  of  the  law— my  Lord  Alfred  Court- 
land,  and  the  leeches  who  sought  to  prey  upon  his  youth  and  in- 
experience, drove  do^\Ti  to  Blackwall  to  nibble  a  small  fry  of  ridicu- 
lous little  fishes,  enveloped  in  batter,  called  whitebait,  and  esteemed, 
for  some  undiscoverable  reason,  a  delicacy. 

Exactly  as  the  clock  stiaick  five,  a  dark,  well-appointed  drag,  with 
three  bays  and  a  chestnut — all  thoroughbred,  or  thereabouts — drew 
up  at  the  entrance  to  the  Pandemonium.  Captain  O'Brien,  handing 
the  reins  to  a  dark-whiskered,  good-looking  young  fellow,  who  was 
his  companion  on  the  box,  descended,  and  entering  the  club,  was 
introduced  by  D'Almayne  to  Lord  Alfred  Courtland  and  Jack 
Beaupeep  ;  the  first  mentioned  individual  acknowledging  his  saluta- 
tion by  the  slightest  possible  removal  of  the  hat,  together  with  an  all 
but  invisible  motion  of  the  head,  the  latter  by  a  profound  salaam, 
together  with  the  diffident  remark, — 
"  Sir,  you  do  me  proud." 

"  Not  at  all,  sir,  not  at  all ;  on  the  contrary,  it's  proud  I  am  to 
make  your  acquaintance,  and  you  a  mimber  of  the  government,  too. 
Did  ye  know  Smith  O'Brien,  now  ?  "  Not  waiting  a  reply,  he  con- 
tinued. "  Oh,  he's  a  great  legislathur  entirely ;  and  sure  them  that 
don't  die  first  will  live  to  see  him  prime  minister  of  this  counti'y,one 
of  these  fine  mornings ;  and  a  '  prime '  minister  he'll  make,  sure ! 
'  Justice  to  Ireland '  will  be  found  engraved  in  copper-plate  on  his 
heart  by  any  gentleman  who  may  have  the  pleasure  of  attending  the 
post-mortenr  examination  of  his  remains,  and  long  life  to  'em !  " 

"  Are  we  waiting  for  any  one  ?"  inquired  Horace,  fearful  lest  his 
Hibernian  associate  should  disgust  Lord  Alfred  by  his  offensive 
familiarity  at  first  starting.  "  Guillemard  has,  I  see,  ali'eady  taken 
his  seat.  Have  you  any  objection  to  pull  up  at  the  Guards'  Club, 
O'Brien  ?  There  are  three  or  four  army  men  who  have  promised  to 
come,  and  your  drag  will  carry  them  easily." 

The  Captain  agreeing  to  this— as  indeed  he  appeared  willing  to 
agree  to  any  and  everything  suggested  by  D'Almayne— they  took 
their  places  ;  O'Brien  insisting  on  Lord  Alfred  succeeding  to  the 
box-seat,  vacated  for  that  purpose  by  the  dark-whiskered,  hawk-eyed 
youth,  who  was  none  other  than  Phil  Tirrett,  the  horse-breeder's  son, 
whom  Horace  D'Almayne  had  designated  as  a  very  ijromising  young 
scoundrel— a  style  of  character  which  he  was  so  well  able  to  recognize, 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  259 

and  so  thoroughly  competent  to  form  an  opinion  upon,  that  we  feel 
convinced  he  only  did  the  youn^  gentleman's  merits  justice. 

By  no  means  captivated  by  O'Brien's  manners  or  address,  Lord 
Alfred  was  at  first  haughty  and  monosyllabic  ;  but  perceiving  that 
D'Almayne  was  as  scrupulously  polite  to  this  son  of  Erin  as  to  the 
most  polished  member  of  the  fashionable  world,  it  occurred  to  him 
that  in  his  character  of  man-about-town  the  correct  thing  was  to 
assume  a  general  languid  citizen-of-the-worldship ;  and,  as  a  duty 
to  his  presumed  impei-tm-bability,  to  appear,  not  all  things  to  all 
men,  but  the  same  thing  to  every  man.  Thus,  I'ousing  himself,  he 
paid  a  die-away  and  meaningless  compliment  to  the  workmanlike 
manner  in  which  Captain  O'Brien — "  Ar — put  his  team  along,  and — 
ar— the  correct  style  of  the  whole  affair." 

This  led  to  an  equestrian  and  sporting  rhapsody  on  the  part  of  the 
Hon.  Terence,  interspersed  with  anecdotes — strange,  if  true — of  the 
dams  and  the  sires,  and  the  own  brothers  and  sisters,  of  the 
individual  members  of  the  team,  and  especially  of  the  chestnut, 
which  had  been  "  The  sweetest  thing,  sir,  across  a  stiff  country  that 
ever  man  rode  ;  no  day  was  too  long  and  no  burst  too  fast  for  him, 
bedad !  and  the  bittei-est  moment  ever  I,  Terence  O'Brien,  knew 
(ban-ing  the  loss  of  me  matei*nal  grandmother,  by  spontaneous  com- 
bustion,  from  fortuitously  sitting  down  upon  a  lighted  cinder,  which 
had  providentially  popped  out  of  the  fire  for  that  purpose),  was  when 
I  staked  him  above  the  near  hock  at  Melton,  last  season ;  and  he's 
never  been  fit  to  gallop  since,  or  it  isn't  in  harness  ye'd  see  him  now 
— and  him  costing  me  a  cool  <£400,  and  worth  all  the  money  now,  if 
he  was  but  sound,"  &c.,  &c. 

The  witty  author  of  "  Tristram  Shandy,"  in  introducing  to  the 
reader  that  most  lovable  of  humorists,  my  Uncle  Toby,  has  dis- 
coursed eloquently  on  the  various  hobby-horses  which  take  posses- 
sion of,  and  enslave,  the  mind  of  man.  Fortification,  which  was  my 
Uncle  Toby's  mania,  engi'ossed  his  thoughts,  and  influenced  his 
conversation,  until  nothing  but  his  simplicity  and  kindness  of  heai-t 
saved  him  from  degenerating  into  a  complete  bore  ;  but  when  a  man's 
hobby-horse  is  the  equine  animal  itself,  you  can  no  more  unhorse 
him  than  if  he  were — as  assuredly  he  ought  to  have  been,  if  mind  and 
body  had  bonie  a  pi'oper  affinity  to  each  other — a  centaur.  O'Brien 
was  a  centam-,  and  having  once  mounted  his  hobby,  he  rode  him  all 
the  way  to  Blackwall,  to  Lord  Alfred's  extinction,  or  thereabouts ;  but 
considering  that  a  certain  amount  of  "  tui-f  "  adheres  to  the  character 
of  a  man-about-town,  he  bore  the  infliction  like  a — well,  suppose, 
though  we  have  foresworn  slang  as  low,  we  for  this  once  say — a 
brick. 

Three  guardsmen,  and  a  young  heavy  dragoon  who  lived  to  con- 
sume beer  and  cigars  and  produce  moustachios  and  stupidity,  were 
duly  added  to  the  party ;  and  by  the  time  they  reached  Blackwall 
everybody  grew  hungry,  and  prepared  to  do  ample  justice  to  the 
whitebait.    Of  course,  everybody  has  at  some  period  of  their  earthly 


2G0  HARRY  CO VERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

career  eaten  a  Blaclcwail  dinner,  and  such  feeds  are  all  exactly  alike. 
First  appears  a  course  of  fish,  enough  to  constitute  a  dinner  in  itself ; 
sea-fish,  river-fish,  pond-fish— fishes  boiled,  fried,  stewed,  and  be- 
deviled in  various  ways,  which  it  would  require  the  knowledge  of  the 
supposed  inventor  of  cooks  himself  to  detail ;  then  come  the  wonder- 
ful whitebait  themselves,  their  stupid  little  bodies  enveloped  in 
skeleton  dresses  of  batter  ;  and  then  fishes  are  ignored,  and  develop, 
according  to  the  "  Vestiges  of  Creation  "  theory,  into  the  higher 
forms  of  animal,  into  which  the  highest  form  of  all— man— pitches 
cannibal-like,  until  the  culinary  cosmos  is  resolved  into  its  pristine 
chaotic  elements.  And  around  this  hecatomb  of  slaughtered  zoology 
and  feasting  humanity  skip  nimble  waiters,  furnished  with  bottles  of 
every  shape  and  hue ;  for,  since  Noah  first  discovered  the  seductive 
beverage,  wine-bibbing  has  been  a  levelling  principle,  by  means  of 
which  the  lords  of  the  creation  have  been  accustomed  to  assimilate 
themselves  to  their  subjects  the  brutes,  despite  the  hydraulic 
pressure  of  Father  Mathew  and  all  others  who  have  pledged  them- 
selves to  cold-water  such  degrading  customs.  And.  indeed,  we  fear 
that  of  the  two  parties  whose  respective  mottoes  might  be  "  in  vino 
Veritas,"  and  "  truth  lies  at  the  bottom  of  a  well,"  the  latter  will 
continue  to  constitute  the  minoi-ity  until  the  end  of  the  chapter ;  or, 
as  Jack  Beaupeep  expressed  the  same  sentiment,  when  DAlmayne 
propounded  to  him  a  somewhat  similar  theory,  be  "  safe  to  kick  the 
bucket  if  they  don't  put  their  foot  in  it  in  any  other  way  "  :  but  that 
misguided  young  man  not  only  made,  but  rejoiced  in,  shocking  bad 
puns. 

The  dinner  had  been  done  ample  justice  to — the  wines  (and  their 
name  was  legion)   had  not  been  at  all  neglected — Lord  Alfred  had 
become  quite  intimate  with  the  guardsmen,  who,  as  the  wine  un- 
locked their  tongues,  began,  in  a  quiet,  gentlemanly  way,  to  qiiiz 
everything    and    everybody,    especially    the    heavy   dragoon,    who 
rejoiced  in  the  patronymic  of  Gambler — a  name  on  which  the  other 
military  gentlemen  were  pleased  to  exercise  their  wit  whenever  they 
addressed  him.    As,  for  example,  1st  guardsmen,  loquitur : — 
"  I  say,  Beaupeep,  have  you  heard  Fred's  (2nd  guardsman's)  last  ?  " 
"  I  haven't  even  heard  his  first,"  was  the  rejoinder, 
" No ;  I  should  think  not,"  continued  No.  1 ;  "he  made  that  when 
he  was  quite  a  baby  in  arms." 

"  Ye  may  as  well  say  before  he  could  speak,  while  ye  are  about  it," 
suggested  O'Brien. 

"Bravo,  Captain!  you  won't  better  that,"  said  the  narrator. 
"  However,  Fred's  last  and  worst  was  this — '  "Why  is  the  gallant  cornet 
opposite  an  addition  to  any  mess-table?'  Do  you  give  it  up? 
'  Because  he's  half  game  and  half  beer !  " 

"  I  dare  say  it's  very  funny,"  muttered  the  heavy  subject  of  the  jest, 
"  but  I  don't  see  the  point  myself." 

"  It's  a  pint  of  half-and-half,"  obsei-ved  Jack  Beaupeep,  explana- 
torily. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  261 

"  Or  '  heavy  '  wet  if  he  were  out  in  the  rain,"  added  guardsman 
No.  2. 

"  Talking  of  heavy  wet  puts  me  in  mind  of  coming  down  with  the 
dust.  When  are  you  going  to  pei-form  that  operation  in  regard  to 
the  Windsor  Steeplechase  ?  "  inquired  the  comet  surlily,  who,  not 
having  anything  witty  to  reply  to  his  assailant,  substituted  instead 
the  most  unpleasant  topic  he  could  select. 

"  That  is  soon  answered,"  was  the  rejoinder ;  "whenever  you'll  malce 
a  fresh  match  between  the  horses,  and  give  Rattletrap  a  chance  of 
showing  Teacaddy  the  way  home,  when  he's  not  been  pricked  in 
shoeing  by  a  confounded  blacksmith." 

"  Oh !  if  that's  all,  you  may  hand  over  the  cash  to-morrow 
morning,"  returned  the  dragoon ;  "  the  mare's  in  first-rate  order,  and 
I'm  game  to  back  her  for  a  match,  hurdle-race,  steeplechase,  or  what 
you  will,"  was  the  confident  reply. 

"  Ah  !  Is  It  II  steeplechase  now,  ye' re  talking  of  ?  "  inteiTupted 
O'Brien,  filling  himself  a  tumbler  of  claret ;  "  sure,  an'  I've  got  a 
horse  I'd  be  proud  to  enter,  if  it  wasn't  jist  putting  me  hand  in  your 
pockets  and  taking  the  money  out  of  'em ;  for  if  he's  in  the  race,  I'd 
name  the  winner  before  they  start." 

"  He  must  be  a  wonderful  animal,  Captain,"  observed  the  first 
guardsman ;  "  high-pressure,  express  train  style  of  quadruped,  eh  ?  " 

"  Furnished  with  a  screw-propeller,  more  likely,"  added  his 
companion  ironically. 

"  Faith,  an'  ye're  wi'ong  there  entirely  :  it's  little  of  the  screw  ye'll 
find  about  Bi'oth-of-a-boy.  Talk  about  railroads,  indeed,  I  never 
knew  what  flying  was  till  the  day  I  first  galloped  him  in  the  Phcenix 
Pai-k.  I  only  wish  I'd  had  him  in  Spain,  when  I  served  with  the 
legion  of  Sir  De  Lacy  Evans;  it  isn't  overtaken  and  kilt  entirely  by 
their  blackguard  dragoons  I'd  have  been  then — though  it's  little  but 
hard  blows  and  hard  swearing  they  got  out  of  me,  as  it  was,  the 
Lord  be  praised  !  " 

"  Hear,  hear !  a  stoi-y,  a  story ! "  "  Military  reminiscences  of 
Captain  O'Brien  !  order,  order !  "  "  Silence  for  the  noble  anecdote  !  " 
"  Out  witli  it,  Captain !  "  &c.,  &c.,  were  some  of  the  exclamations 
with  which  the  Hibernian's  last  speech  was  hailed  by  various 
members  of  the  party,  upon  whom  the  whitebait  (?)  was  beginning 
totcU. 

Thus  urged,  that  worthy,  clearing  his  throat  by  a  sip  at  the  claret, 
which  half  emptied  the  tumbler,  began : — 

"  WeU,  boys  "  (here  he  caught  a  look  from  Horace  D'Almayne, 
which  caused  him,  nothing  abashed,  to  add  parenthetically),  "if 
in  the  congeniality  of  good  fellowship  you  will  permit  me  to  call 
ye  so,  the  stoiy's  nothing  so  very  wonderful,  after  all — it  was 
just  a  bit  of  a  spree,  do  ye  see,  nothing  more  ;  but  such  as  it  is 
ye're  welcome  to  it " — (polite  aside  from  Jack  Beaupeep  for  Lord 
Alfred's  benefit — "  You're  too  liberal,  really !  ")  "  I  was  with 
Sir  De  Lacy  Evans  in  Spain,  captain  in  a  regiment  of  lancers; 


262  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

a  rare  set  of  rattling  dogs  tliey  were  too— up  to  everything,  from 
robbing  a  henroost  to  burning  towns  and  sacking  monasteries  " — 
(Beaupeep    aside — "  A    decidedly    sac-religious   act,    that    last ! ") 
"  On  one  occasion,  we  were  stationed  at  a  place  distant  about  four 
miles  from  a  village  occupied   by  a  strong  body  of  Carlists ;  well, 
sir,  for  several  nights  nmning,  our  sentinels  on  the  side  towards 
the   village  were  assassinated — stabbed    through    the    heart    they 
were !      We  had  'em  doubled,  two  men  to  each  post ;    bedad,  the 
only  improvement  that  effected  was,  we  got  two  men  murdered 
instead  of  one ;  and  yet  the  scamp  that  did  it  always  contrived  to 
get  away  clear  and  clean — we  never  so  much  as  clapped  eyes  on 
him !    Well,  I  bothered  and  puzzled  the  matter  over,  and  thought 
of  this  thing  and  that  thing,  and  at  last  I  got  hold  of  a  notion  I 
fancied    might  work    well ;    so    I    cut    off    to    our    Colonel,   and 
'  Colonel,'  says  I,  '  with  your  kind  permission,  I  thiiik   I  can  stop 
these  assassinations.'    '  What  is  it,   O'Brien  ? '   says  he,  '  you're  a 
clever,  rising  yountr  officer,  and  a   man  that  bids  fair  to  be  an 
oniament  to  his  profession ; '  but  I  won't  trouble  ye  with  the  illegant 
eulogy  he  was  so  polite  as  to  pronounce  upon  me  that  day  " — ("  Hear, 
hear!  "from  Beaupeep  and  the  guardsmen).    "So  I  jist  obtained 
his  permission  to  select  two  well-mounted  troopers  out  of  my  own 
company,  and  leave  to  do  what  I  pleased  with  them  and  myself 
during  the  night,  and  that  was  all  I  wanted.    I  happened  at  that 
time  to  have  a  particularly  fast  mare — a  sweet  thing  she  was,  bay, 
with  black  points,  nearly  thorough-bred,  a  head  like  an  antelope, 
and  as  to  pace,  'gad  there  wasn't  a  horse  in  the  regiment  could  come 
near  her.    Before  nightfall  I  picked  out  my  two  troopers — sharp, 
plucky  young  fellows,  that  I  knew  I  could  depend  upon  if  it  came  to 
hard  fighting,  each  of  them  well  moiinted ;  and  I  took  care  to  see 
that  their  horses  and  the  mare  were  properly  fed  and  watered,  so  as 
to  be  fit  for  a  stiff  burst ;  then  I  amused  myself  with  sharpening  the 
point  of  my  lance  till  it  was  as  keen  as  a  razor.     About  a  stone's 
throw  from  the  post  where  the  sentry  they  used  to  assassinate  was 
stationed" — ("Of  course,  the  same  man  every  night  till  fui-ther 
notice,"  murmiu-ed  Jack  Beaupeep,  continuing  his  running  com- 
mentary)— "  there  was  a  thicket  of  olive  bushes  and  other  shrubs ; 
behind  this,  as  soon  as  it  grew  dusk,  I  posted  my  men  with  the 
horses,  while  I  availed  myself  of  a  rise  in  the  ground  to  advance 
nearer,  and  lie  down,  hidden  from  sight  by  a  stunted  Isush  or  two. 
Well,  I  waited  and  waited,  and  watched  and  watched,  so  that  a 
mouse  could  not  have  stirred  without  my  noticing  it ;  but  nothing 
did  I  see,  except  the  shadowy  figure  of  the  sentinel  pacing  up  and 
down  in  the  moonlight,  as  though  he  were  the  discontented  ghost  of 
one  of  his  murdered  comrades  "—("  Very  pretty— quite  poetical,  I 
declare  ! "  from  Beaupeep).    "  Well,  at  last,  just  about  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  before  daybreak,  which  is  the  darkest  period  of  the  night  in 
those  latitudes,  whether  I  had  dozed  off  for  a  minute  I  don't  know, 
but  I  was  staitled  by  a  noise  differing  from  the  monotonous  tread  of 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  263 

the  sentinel,  and  which  sounded  to  my  ear  like  the  cracking  of  a  di-y 
twig ;  in  another  moment  I  perceived  a  dark,  round  object  movinpc 
upon  the  ground  which  I  soon  made  out  to  be  the  head  of  a  man 
drawing  himself  along,  snake-fashion,  upon  his  stomach — while  so 
close  had  he  got  to  the  unconscious  soldier  that  I  perceived,  if  I  would 
save  the  poor  lad's  life,  not  an  instant  was  to  be  lost.  I  therefore 
gave  the  signal  to  my  troopers  to  come  up,  and  drawing  my  sword 
rushed  forward  to  secure  the  assassin.  As  I  did  so,  a  light,  active 
figure  sprang  up  from  the  ground,  and  brandishing  a  long,  keen 
dagger,  made  a  furious  stab  at  the  sentiy;  but,  fortimately,  my 
approach  confused  the  scoundi-el,  so  that  he  missed  his  stroke,  and 
instead  of  killing  the  man,  merely  inflicted  a  slight  flesh  wound  of 
no  consequence.  Notwithstanding  his  sxirprise — for,  as  the  soldier 
afterwards  declared  to  me,  his  antagonist  seemed  to  have  risen  out 
of  the  earth— the  senti-y  attempted  to  seize  him ;  but  he  contrived 
to  slip  out  of  his  hands  like  an  eel,  and  before  I  could  reach  the 
spot,  had  disappeared  in  the  darkness.  In  another  moment  the  dull 
sound  of  a  horse's  feet  galloping  over  the  turf  jn-oved  to  me  that  he 
was  away ;  but  my  oAvn  horse  being  brought  up,  I  sprang  into  the 
saddle,  snatched  my  lance  from  the  trooper  who  held  it,  and  ordering 
the  men  to  follow  me,  started  in  pursuit. 

"  'Pon  me  conscience,  gentlemen,  I  niver  reflect  on  me  feelings  at 
tliat  critical  moment  but  it  makes  me — Ah,  well!  I'll  jist  trouble 
your  Lordship  for  the  claret." 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

LORD   ALFRED  COURTLAND  SOWS  A  FEW  WILD  OATS. 

Captain  O'Brien,  having  finished  his  glass  of  claret,  and  turned 
lip  the  points  of  his  carroty  moustaches,  thus  resumed  his  stoi*y : — 

"  At  first  it  was  as  much  as  I  was  able  to  do  to  track  the  fellow  by 
the  sound  of  his  horse's  hoofs  upon  the  soft  tui-f,  but  I  trusted  a 
good  deal  to  the  mare's  instinct  to  follow  the  horse  before  her; 
fortunately  we  had  not  very  far  to  go  before  we  got  upon  the  hard 
village  road,  and  then  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  ride  him  down, 
for  the  grey  light  that  precedes  the  dawn  enabled  me  to  see  his 
figure  distinctly.  But  that  same  riding  him  down  was  easier  to  talk 
about  than  to  do,  for  the  scoxmdrel  had  obtained  a  long  stai-t  of  us, 
and  thoiigh  I  was  well  mounted,  I  soon  perceived  that  he  was 
equally  so.    Away  we  rattled  at  a  slashing  pace,  and  for  about  a 


264  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

mile  the  two  troopers  managed  to  keep  up  pretty  tolerably ;  but  by 

the  time  we  had  ridden  rather  more  than  twice  that  distance,  I 

found  my  friend  was  gi'adually  drawing^  ahead,  and  that  if  I  waited 

for  my  men,  I  should  soon  have  seen  my  last  of  him  ;  so  {^ivinf?  the 

mare  her  head,  and  a  triflinf^:  reininder  with  the  spur  besides,  I  left 

them,  and  they  p^"adually  tailed  off  in  the  distance,  until  a  turn  of 

the  road  hid  them  altof»ether.    In   my  time  I've  ridden  st-eeple- 

chases,  hurdle-races,  and  every  species  of  race  that  the  divil  ever 

invented,  but  a  faster  thinj?  than  that  morning's  ride  I  never  saw 

nor  heard  of.    The  horses  wei'e  well  matched  as  to  speed,  mine  was 

rather  the  freshest,  but  then  the  Carlist  was  the  lighter  weight;  the 

thing  could  not  have  been  fairer.    However,  after  a  couple  of  miles 

or  so  more,  I  was  glad  to  perceive  that  I  was  gi-adually  creeping  up 

to  him ;  and  I  suppose  he  began  to  suspect  it  too,  for,  as  the  light 

increased,  1  saw  him  every  now  and  then  look  round  suspiciously, 

and  m-ge  his  horse  still  faster  at  each  successive  glance.    Al>out  a 

mile  from  the  village,  I  had  gained  upon  him  so  decidedly  that  it 

was  evident  I  must  overtake  him  before  he  could  reach  its  friendly 

shelter.    Apparently  he  was  of  the  same  opinion,  for,  before  I  was 

aware  of  his  intention,  he  unslung  a  carbine  he  carried,  pulled  up 

suddenly,  and  turning  in  his  saddle,  levelled  it,  and  took  a  delil)erate 

aim  at  me.    Everybody  that  knows  Terence  O'Brien,  knows  he's  no 

coward;  but  'pon  me  conscience,  at  that  moment,  I  wouldn't  have 

been  son-y  to  have  turaed  my  horses  head,  and  cried  quits  with  him ; 

however,  a  bullet  is  a  style  of  ai'ticle  that  doesn't  allow  a  man  much 

time  for  deliberation,  so  seeing  it  was  a  case  of  hit  or  miss,  I  only 

rammed  in  the  spurs  harder,  bent  down  my  head,  couched  my  lance, 

and  galloped  on.    Bang  went  the  carbine ;  and  almost  before  the 

report  reached  me,  a  bullet  whistled  through  the  air ;  I  heard  a  sort 

of  '  thud,'  as  when  an  arrow  strikes  a  straw  target,  and  felt  my 

throat-strap    suddenly    tightened — the    messenger    of    death    had 

passed  through  my  cap,  sevenng  a  lock  of  hair  and  just  raising  the 

skin,  without  doing  me  the  slightest  injury  ;  but  it  was  a  close  shave 

in  every   sense  of    the    word.     Well,    as    soon    as    the    scoundrel 

perceived  that  his  shot  had  failed,  he  felt  that  his  only  chance  was 

to  exert  every  nerve  to  reach  the  village  before  I  overtook  him  ;  so, 

flinging  away  his  dischaa-ged  carbine,  he  dashed  on,  urging  his  failing 

steed  with  voice  and  spurs,  and  even,  as  I  gained  upon  him,  with  the 

point  of  his  dagger.    Another  minute  brought  us  in  sight  of  the 

village,  where  a  sleepy  sentinel  was  pacing  up  and  down  the  road  in 

front  of  a  sort  of  toll-house.    Astonished  at  the  sight  of  two  men 

riding  like  lunatics,  he  first  attempted  to  close  the  bar  fixed  there  to 

defend  the  entrance  to  the  village,  then,  recognizing  my  companion, 

he  paused,  and  before  he  had  come  to  any  decision,  we  had  dashed 

past  him — my  friend  obligingly  desiring  him  to  '  shoot  the  dog  of  a 

Christino,'  as  we  flew  by  ;  an  order  which,  fortunately  for  me,  he  was 

too  much  confused  to  execute,  discharging  his  fii-elock  harmlessly 

into  the  air.    As  we  passed  the  toll-house,  I  was  not  above  two  horse- 


/ 


A 


'(I 


266  HARRY  COVERDALE'S   COURTSHIP 

Lord  Alfred  his  opinion  tliat  the  history  in  question  was  better 
suited  to  the  capacity  of  the  marines  than  to  that  of  able-bodied 
seamen,  to  which  his  Lordship,  quoting'  Horace,  replied,  that 
"  Judseus  Apella  "  might  believe  it,  but  that  he  did  not ;  which,  as  he 
said  it  in  the  original  langnage  of  the  Roman  poet,  elicited  from  his 
companion  the  remark  that  it  sounded  very  pretty,  and  he  wished 
that  he  understood  Dutch. 

"  But  about  this  said  race  ;  what  is  it  to  be,  and  when  is  it  to  come 
off  ? "  inquired  the  heavy  cornet,  who  possessed  every  requisite 
except  brains  to  become  a  first-rate  blackleg. 

"  Do  you  really  mean  that  you've  a  horse  you'd  like  to  enter  for, 
say,  a  hurdle-race,  Captain  O'Brien  P  "  observed  the  first  guardsman, 
thinking  the  gallant  Hibernian  had  been  rhapsodizing,  and  desii'ous 
of  exposing  the  fact. 

"  Indeed,  then,  an'  I  have,  if  you're  plucky  enough  to  enter  any 
horse  against  him,"  was  the  confident  reply.  "  Broth-of-a-boy  will 
show  'em  the  way  home  in  style ;  but  there  may  be  a  very  pretty 
race  for  second,  nevertheless." 

A  laugh  followed  this  slightly  gasconading  assertion,  and  the 
"  Heavy  "  continued  :  "  Suppose  we  try  and  make  a  good  race  of  it, 
and  each  of  vis  here  enter  a  horse,  and  do  the  thing  well." 

"  "  Mais  que  diable ' — vot  shall  he  mean  ?  "  inquired  Monsieur 
Guillemard,  completely  out  of  his  depth ;  "  to  entaire,  to  valk  into ! — 
how  shall  ve  valk  into  a  horse  ?  " 

"  Oh,  it's  a  mere  '  fagon  de  pai-ler,'  "  retm-ned  Beaupeep,  delighted  at 
an  opportunity  of  mystifying  a  foreigner ;  "  it's  merely  a  term  used 
in  this  kind  of  game ;  it  is  a  soi-t  of  lottery,  in  which  each  person 
thinks  of — invents,  in  fact — some  horse's  name,  Jaques-bon-Homme, 
or  Moi-t-de-ma-Vie,  or  any  other  name  that  occixrs  to  him;  then, 
some  day  that  may  be  agreed  on,  these  names  are  written  on  slips  of 
paper,  and  drawn  out  of  a  hat  or  cap,  and  those  that  don't  lose,  win ; 
but  there's  very  little  chance  of  losing — almost  everybody  wins  ;  it's  a 
pretty  game,  and  very  simple  when  you're  used  to  it.  Do  you  quite 
understand,  or  shall  I  say  it  again  ?  " 

"  '  Mais  oui,'  you  ai*e  polite,  not  at  all.  I  shall  apprehend  him  one 
day,  when  I  shall  have  played  at  him  :  '  vive  la  bagatelle ! '  long  live  zie 
rubbish  !  "  was  the  cheerful  rejoinder. 

While  this  little  conversation  had  been  proceeding,  the  dark, 
handsome  young  man,  yclept  Phil  Tirrett,  receiving  a  hint  from 
O'Brien,  conveyed  in  a  contraction  of  the  eyelid,  so  slight  that 
no  one  but  himself  perceived  it,  wrote  a  few  words  on  a  scrap  of 
paper,  and  tossed  it  to  Horace  D'Almayne.  Having  read  it» 
D'Almayne  crushed  it  in  his  hand ;  then,  turning  to  Lord  Alfred,  he 
said, — 

"  Do  you  know  who  my  left-hand  neighbour  is  ?  " 

"  What,  the  good-looking,  gipsy-like  pai'ty  P — no ;  you  will 
surprise  me  if  you  tell  me  he's  a  gentleman,"  was  the  sarcastic 
reply. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  267 

"  By  no  means,"  returned  D'Almayne,  helping  himself  to  claret, 
and  pushing  tbe  bottle  to  Lord  Alfred;  "but,  although  he  would 
pass  with  less  discriminating  critics  than  ourselves,  what  I  like  about 
him  is,  that  he  never  pretends  to  anything  of  the  kind— he  knows 
perfectly  well  his  position,  and  the  terms  on  which  he  gets  admitted 
to  society  such  as  the  present.  His  father  is  a  great  Yorkshire 
horse-breeder — a  man  who  supplies  half  the  London  market, 
and  exports  largely  into  tbe  bargain;  there's  not  a  year  in 
which  old  Tirrett  does  not  turn  over  his  ten  or  fifteen  thousand 
pounds,  and  bag  four  or  five  of  'em  clear  profit  by  the  end  of  it. 
This  lad  is  his  eldest  son,  and  comes  up  to  town  every  season  with  a 
lot  of  young  horses ;  some  are  bought  by  the  dealers,  others,  gener- 
ally two  or  three  of  the  best,  he  shows  himself,  and  keeps  back  till  he 
finds  an  opportunity  of  placing  them  to  advantage.  This  is  his  third 
season  in  town ;  and  from  his  manner  and  appearance,  not  to  men- 
tion the  chance  of  picking  up  a  first-rate  liorse  from  him,  he  has 
acquired  a  sort  of  standing  among  tui-f-men." 

"  And  this  brief  biography  comes  '  a  propos '  to  what  ?  "  inquired 
Lord  Alfred  languidly,  filling  his  glass. 

'"A  propos'  to  his  banding  me  this  bit  of  paper,"  rejoined 
D'Almayne. 

Lord  Alfred  unrolled  the  mysterious  "  billet-doux " ;  it  ran  as 
follows : — 

"  If  your  friend  Lord  A.  C.  has  a  fancy  to  enter  a  horse,  I  can 
show  him  one  to-morrow  no  one  in  London  has  yet  seen,  or  heard  of ; 
it  can  beat  any  animal  that  will  be  named  to-night,  I  know ;  and,  for 
its  stamp,  the  figure  is  not  a  high  one.  If  he  likes  the  idea,  let  him 
name  Don  Pasquale." 

Lord  Alfred  pondered  :  during  his  life  in  London  his  money  had 
been  making  itself  wings,  and  .using  them  also  with  alarming  assi- 
duity. For  a  peer,  his  father  was  not  a  rich  man,  and  his  own 
allowance,  although  enough  for  a  gentleman  to  live  tipon  carefully, 
was  by  no  means  calculated  to  withstand  stich  reckless  inroads  as 
bad  lately  been  made  upon  it.  As  yet  he  was  not  in  debt,  and  had  a 
virtuous  horror  of  becoming  so ;  but  to  purchase  a  racehorse,  with 
such  a  name  as  Don  Pasquale — an  animal  with  a  reputation  which 
would  ensure  its  beating  any  horse  likely  to  be  entered  by  cavalry 
cornets,  real  live  guardsmen,  or}  captains  of  lancers  who  had  speared 
Carlist  spies,  was  an  idea  equally  fearful  and  fascinating,  which, 
even  the  mystical  information  tbat  (for  such  an  unparalleled 
quadruped)  the  figure  was  not  to  be  a  high  one,  was  unable  to  divest 
of  its  equal  powers  of  terror  and  temptation.  He  glanced  at  the 
cornet  and  at  the  guardsmen ;  the  cornet  might  be  about  his  own 
standing,  but  he  felt  a  proud  consciousness  that  if  the  prejudices  of 
bis  benighted  country  had  alloAved  him  to  wear  a  moustache,  lie  could 
have  grown  a  much  more  imposing  style  of  article.  One  guardsman 
was  a  noble  adult,  endowed  by  nature  with  unimpeachable  black 
whiskers,  and  impregnable  in  the  "  sang-froid  "  of  three  decimals  ;  but 


268  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

the  other,  the  fastest  and  punningest  of  the  pavty,  was  a  mei*e  boy, 
apparently  his  lordshi^D's  junior  by  a  year  or  more :  yet  this  pre- 
cocious young  warrior  talked  of  entering  racehorses  and  betting 
cool  hundreds  as  though  such  pursuits  were  analogous  to  playing 
marbles  for  stakes  payable  in  the  copper  coinage  sacred  to  the  effigy 
of  Britannia,  of  wave-ruling  celebrity.  And  should  he,  the  knowing 
man-about-town,  the  friend  and  favourite  pupil  of  Horace 
D'Almayne,  should  he  be  deterred  by  prudential  considerations  which 
even  that  boy  had  the  spirit  to  ignore  and  disregard  ? 

D  Almayne's  eyes  looked  through  him  as  if  he  had  been  made 
of  plate-glass,  perceived  his  hesitation  and  its  cause,  and  hastened 
to  put  an  end  to  it.  "  Have  nothing  to  do  with  it, '  nion  cher,'  "  he 
said,  "  sotto  voce  " ;  "  you've  been  spending  money  pretty  fast  lately, 
and  we  shall  have  yoiir  noble  father  cutting  up  rough,  and  refusing 
the  supplies." 

"  You  seem  to  think  I  am  a  baby ! "  was  Lord  Alfred's  piqued 
reply,  as  he  filled  a  large  claret-glass  to  the  brim,  having  already 
partaken  of  that  liqiior  and  others  freely ;  "  yon  fancy  I  am  to  go 
through  life  in  leading-strings ;  but  you  will  learn  better  some  of 
these  days  ;  "  then  with  a  confidential  nod  to  Phil  Tirrett,  which  that 
accomplished  young  scoundrel  acknowledged  with  a  significant  smile, 
he  continued  aloud, "  Captain  O'Brien,  I  am  cvirious  to  test  your 
assertion,  and  beg  to  enter  a  horse  of  mine,  Don  Pasquale,  in  order 
to  discover  whether  Broth-of-a-boy  can  show  him  the  way  home, 
as  that  is  a  feat  which  I  have  yet  to  seek  the  animal  able  to 
perform." 

At  this  challenge,  so  boldly  thrown  down,  evei-ybody  grew 
clamorous  and  excited,  with  the  exception  of  Jack  Beaupeep,  who, 
for  the  delectation  of  himself  and  the  younger  guardsman,  went 
through  a  pantomimic  representation  of  first  hanging  himself,  then, 
with  a  dessert-knive,  severing  his  carotid  artery — regarding  Lord 
Alfred  the  while  with  a  smile  of  mock  commiseration,  as  though  to 
signify  his  conviction  that  the  yoimg  nobleman  was  metaphorically 
performing  a  similar  suicidal  operation  on  his  own  account. 
Horace  D'Almayne,  with  a  face  indicative  of  deep  concern,  vainly 
endeavoured  to  dissuade  Lord  AKred  from  having  anything  to  do 
with  horse-racing,  which  he  described  as  a  snare  and  a  delusion,  with 
such  pathetic  earnestness  that  his  Lordship,  bent  on  vindicating  his 
enfranchisement  from  parental  or  moral  leading-strings,  even  if  he 
were  necessitated  to  throw  himself  over  a  precipice  in  order  to  do  so, 
became  more  than  ever  determined  to  have  his  own  way.  Accord- 
ingly, he  made  an  appointment  to  meet  the  guardsman  and  Captain 
O'Brien  on  the  following  morning  at  the  Pandemonium,  and  settle 
all  the  preliminaries  of  the  race.  This  interesting  and  important 
matter  being  thus  pnt  properly  in  train,  much  "  turf  "  conversation 
followed ;  and  too  much  wine  was  drunk  by  the  pai-ty  generally,  and 
Captain  O'Brien  in  particular ;  until  somebody  suggesting  that  they 
had  a  longish  drive  before  them,  the  meeting  broke  up,  and  D'Almayne 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  269 

retired  with  the  head-waiter,  to  undergo  that  uncomfortable  opera- 
tion yclept  "  paying  the  bill."  As  he  did  so,  Tirrett  drew  Lord 
Alfred  into  a  corner,  and  inquired  in  a  low  tone, — 

"  How  early  may  I  call  on  your  Lordship,  and  take  you  to  see  Don 
Pasquale  ?  " 

"  Eh  ?  early  did  you  say  ? — do  you  mean  really  and  positively  early, 
or  early  for  London  ?  I  seldom  breakfast  before  eleven,"  was  the 
"  about-townish  "  reply. 

"  I  did  mean  really  early,"  rejoined  Tirrett.  "  Don  Pasquale  is  at 
a  stable  a  little  way  out  of  town,  whei'e  I  would  advise  your  Lordshix) 
to  keep  him  quiet  tiU  after  the  race ;  and,  as  there  is  no  good  in  letting 
too  many  people  into  the  secret  of  his  whereabouts.  I  was  going  to 
propose  to  meet  you  at  Hyde  Park  Corner  at  eight  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning,  and  drive  you  down ;  in  which  case  you  might  be  in  town 
again  by  your  usual  breakfast  bour,  and  no  one  any  the  wiser  for  our 
expedition." 

"  Yes — you  know  best,  of  course;  but  really  it's  an  alarming  sacri- 
fice of  '  nature's  sweet  restorer ' ;  still,  I'm  game  for  the  exertion — a — 
eigbt  o'clock  did  you  say  ?  'Gad,  I'd  better  book  it,  for  my  memory 
is  not  my  strong  point,"  and  as  he  spoke  Lord  Alfred  produced  a 
knowing  little  betting-book,  wbich  he  considered  it  the  correct  thing 
to  carry,  and,  in  the  portion  thereof  dedicated  to  memoi'anda,  entered, 
"  Mr.  Tirrett,  H.  P.  C,  8  a.m. " ;  then,  replacing  it  in  his  pocket,  joined 
a  group,  in  the  centre  whereof  Jack  Beaupeep  was  spinning  a 
dessert-plate  on  the  point  of  his  f  orefingei',  and  performing  various 
feats  of  legerdemain.  The  drag  being  reported  in  readiness,  this 
facetious  young  gentleman  was  obliged  summarily  to  discontinue 
His  performance,  or,  as  he  expressed  it,  "  shut  up  shop,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  early  closing  movement";  and,  after  an  agi-eeable 
moonlight  drive,  they  reached  town  without  adventure  about  eleven 
o'clock. 

"  D' Almayne,  my  boy,  what  are  we  to  do  with  ourselves  ?  "  inquired 
the  punning  guardsman  ;  "  I'm  open  to  anything — except,  of  course, 
going  quietly  to  bed." 

"  Sure,  and  can't  we  get  into  a  row  anywhere,  now  ? — is  there  any 
gentleman's  head  handy  that  we  could  punch  for  a  little  harmless 
divarsion  ?  "  asked  O'Brien. 

"  What  do  you  say  to  kidnapping  a  policeman,  charter  a  cab,  convey 
him  to  a  gin-palace  in  some  obscure  locality,  fill  him  blind  diimk, 
shave  off  his  whiskers,  blacken  his  face,  and  then  dei)osit  him  at  the 
door  of  the  nearest  station-house,  to  be  pimished  for  insobriety, 
riotous  conduct,  and  neglect  of  duty  ?  "  suggested  Beaupeep,  with 
the  air  of  a  philanthi-opist  proposing  some  plan  for  the  benefit  of  his 
species. 

"  Sure,  an'  it's  a  gi-eat  idea  intirely,  and  a  thing  that  should  be  done 
forthwith,"  observed  O'Brien,  meditatively  and  approvingly. 

"  You  can,  of  course,  please  yourselves,  gentlemen,"  replied 
D'Almayne :  "  but  such  valorous  achievements  are  scarcely  in  my 


270  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

line,  or  in  tliat  of  my  friend  Lord  Courtland  ;  '  n'est-ce  pas,'  Alfred, 
'  mon  clier '  ?  " 

"  Yes,  decidedly.    I  was  going  to  propose  that  we  should  look  in  at 

J Street  for  an  liour  or  so,  and  then  go  quietly  to  bed — I  don't  want 

to  be  late  to-night." 

"  I'm  with  you,"  chimed  in  the  first  guardsman,  "what  say  you, 
Fred  ?  " 

"  All  serene ;  though  I  was  in  a  position  to  vocalize  in  the  teeth  of 
a  footpad — '  vacuus  canit,'  etc.,  you  know — regularly  cleaned  out,  the 
last  time  I  quitted  those  realms  of  enchantment ;  but  never  mind, 
faint  heart  never  succeeded  with  lovely  woman,  eh  ?  Go  in  and  win, 
that's  aboiTt  the  time  of  day  ! " 

"  Of  night,  rather,"  suggested  Beaupeep  critically ;  then,  assum- 
ing a  severe  tone  and  manner,  he  continued,  "  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is, 
you're  a  set  of  very  dissipated  young  men,  and  gambling  is  a  vice  of 
which  all  your  anxious  parents  most  strongly  disapprove  !  " 

"  Faith,  and  if  mine  should  happen  to  do  that  same  it  won't  cost 
me  any  overpowering  amount  of  remorse  thin ;  for  me  father  died 
some  years  before  I  came  into  this  wicked  world,  and  my  mother  was 
so  cut  up  by  the  catastrophe  that  she  did  not  survive  him  many 
days,"  remarked  O'Brien,  with  drunken  gi-avity. 

And  having  by  this  time  reached  the  door  of  the  mysterioiis  club 

in  J Street,  DAlmayne  knocked  a  peculiar  knock,  and  the  whole 

party  entered,  with  the  exception  of  Jack  Beaupeep,  who,  observing 
that  he  had  to  wi-ite  a  private  despatch  to  the  Pope,  and  a  confidential 
note  to  Abd-el-Kader,  before  he  went  to  bed,  excused  himself  on  the 
score  of  his  official  duties.  As  he  turned  to  depart,  he  glanced  at 
Lord  Alfred  Courtland,  who,  with  flashing  eyes  and  heightened 
colour,  was  the  first  to  enter.  "  If  that  poor  boy  has  not  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  the'  Philistines,  it's  a  pity  !  "  was  his  mental  comment, 
and  he  shook  his  head  with  the  ominous  i^rof  undity  of  a  second  Lord 
Bui-leigh, 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

THE  OVERTURE  TO  DON  PASQUALE. 

No  one  could  justly  accuse  Mr.  Philip  Tii-rett,  son  and  agent  to  the 
well-known  Yorkshire  horse-breeder,  of  that  prolific  vice,  idleness — 
mother  of  evil— on  the  night  and  morning  after  D'Almayne's  white- 
bait dinner.  So  far,  indeed,  was  he  from  evincing  any  reprehensible 
slothf ulness  in  attending  to  his  father  s  (and  his  own)  interest,  that 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  271 

hastening,  tlie  moment  lie  quitted  his  companions,  to  his  lodgings, 
he  exchanged  his  evening  costume  for  his  every-day  habiliments ; 
then  lying  down,  ready  dressed  as  he  was,  he  snatched  a  couple  of 
hours'  sleep  ;  and,  as  soon  as  the  first  ray  of  daylight  became  visible, 
rose  and  took  his  way  to  a  neighbouring  livery  stable.  Arriving 
there,  he  roused  a  sleepy  helper,  and  desired  him  to  saddle  the  bay 
mare ;  which,  when  his  order  had  been  complied  with,  he  mounted  ; 
and  telling  the  man  to  have  the  tilbury  and  the  chestnut  thorough- 
bred ready  by  a  quarter  before  eight,  rode  ofE.  As  at  that  early  hour 
the  entrances  to  Hyde  Park  were  still  closed,  he  followed  the  wind- 
ings of  Park  Lane,  until  he  reached  Cumberland  Gate,  when,  giving 
his  mare  the  rein,  he  rode  at  a  smart  trot  down  the  Bayswater  Road, 
until  he  reached  the  turnpike,  after  passing  which  he  increased  the 
trot  to  a  fast  canter.  This  pace  he  kept  up  for  about  four  miles  along 
the  Harrow  Road ;  then  tui'ning  off  to  the  right,  he  ijroceeded  about 
a  mile  farther,  until  he  came  to  a  gate  leading  across  a  field,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  which  were  situated  a  cottage  and  some  farm  build- 
ings. Riding  into  the  yard,  Tirrett  gave  a  shrill  whistle,  and 
immediately  a  round,  bullet-shaped,  close-cropped  head  was  pro- 
tnided  from  a  stable -door. 

"  Come  and  take  my  mare,  Dick  ;  put  her  in  and  give  her  a  handful 
of  corn  to  nibble  at.     How  is  the  Don  ?  " 

"  He  be  a  getting  on  stunnin',  Mr.  Philip  ;  I've  kept  him  bandaged, 
as  you  told  me,  sir,  and  it  ain't  hardly  noticeable." 

"  Let  me  have  a  look  at  him,"  was  the  reply  ;  and  after  leading  the 
mare  into  the  stable  from  which  he  had  originally  himself  appeared, 
Dick  produced  a  key,  and,  imlocking  therewith  the  door  of  another 
stable,  Tirrett  entered.  In  a  loose-box,  enveloped  in  cloths,  stood  a 
remarkably  fine  horse,  which,  as  the  door  opened,  turned  its  small, 
well-formed  head  to  gaze  at  the  intruders,  laying  back  its  ears  and 
showing  its  teeth  when  Tirrett  approached  it.  Master  Phil,  however, 
appeared  perfectly  aware  of  its  varioiis  little  peculiarities,  both  of 
temper  and  bodily  estate.  "  Put  a  saddle  and  bridle  on  him,"  he 
said ;  "  I  want  to  see  him  out."  The  execution  of  this  order  invoked 
a  scene  analogous  to  the  little  "  ballet  d'action  "  usually  performed 
between  a  refractoi'y  child  requiring  to  have  its  face  washed  and  a 
firm  but  tender  and  judicious  nurse.  Thus,  on  Dick  apiDroaching 
his  charge  gingerly,  with  the  bridle  held  out  in  a  tempting  and 
sedtictive  manner,  that  perverse  quadruped  immediately  elevated  its 
head  to  the  altitude  of  that  of  a  cameleopard,  or  thereabouts  ;  which, 
as  Dick  was  rather  under  than  over  the  middle  height,  completely 
frusti'ated  his  purpose ;  whereupon  the  groom  told  Pasquale  to  "now 
then !  "  supei-adding  a  request  to  him  to  "  come  out  o'  that,  will  yer !  " 
without  unnecessary  delay.  If  the  demonstrative  pronoun  refen-ed 
to  the  Don's  attitude,  he  did  "come  out  of  it"  instantly,  by  turning 
short  round,  and  in  a  most  senseless  and  uncivil  fashion  presenting 
his  tail  to  be  bi'idled  instead  of  his  head ;  but  this  little  display  of 
wilfulness  and  ill-breeding  defeated  his  object,  for  by  his  sudden 


272  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

gyration  lie  placed  himself  in  a  corner  of  his  loose- box,  where  Dick 
cleverly  contrived  to  pin  him,  and  before  (if  he  had  possessed  the 
faculty  of  speech)  he  could  have  invoked  .Tack  Robinson,  clapped  the 
bridle  on  him,  and  "  brought  him  round  "  in  every  sense  of  the  term. 
"  Take  the  bandage  off  the  foreleg,"  was  Tirrett'snext  order;  as  soon 
as  the  groom  had  executed  it,  his  employer  stooped  down  and  care- 
fully felt  and  examined  the  uncovered  leg.  "  The  heat  and  tender- 
ness seem  aU  gone,"  he  said ;  "  there's  a  little  fulness  still,  but  that 
will  go  down  when  you've  had  him  out  for  half  an  hour.  Does  he 
show  lame  at  all  ?  " 

"I  ain't  took  him  out  of  a  valk,  you  know,  since  it  happened, 
Master  Phil ;  but  he  don't  valk  lame  none,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  must  see  him  out,  Dick ;  take  him  down  to  the  meadow  with  a 
saddle  on  over  his  clothes.  How  is  his  temper  ?  "  was  the  next 
inquiry. 

"  Veil,  he  ain't  jist  the  sort  o'  hanimal  for  a  timid  old  gentleman, 
you  know,  Master  Phil ;  it  takes  a  man  to  ride  him ;  but  he'd  be 
civil  enough  with  you  or  me  on  his  back,  after  the  first  five  minutes," 
rejoined  Dick,  buckling  the  girths  so  tightly  as  disagreeably  to 
compress  the  person  of  the  irascible  Don  Pasquale,  who,  fortunately 
for  himself,  by  no  means  resembled  in  figure  his  namesake,  as 
enacted  by  the  inimitable  Lablache;  but  who  still  resented  this 
indignity  by  making  sundry  vigorous  but  aboi-tive  efforts  to  bite 
and  kick  his  attendant,  by  which  he  obtained  an  exhortation  to 
"cup!"  (which  we  take  to  be  an  abbreviation  of  "come  up!"), 
together  with  the  inteiTogative  remonstrance,  "  what  are  you  ai-ter — 
can't  ye  ?  "  His  toilet  thus  completed,  the  Don  was  led,  snorting 
and  curvetting,  across  the  yard  to  a  gate  opening  into  a  grass 
paddock  of  from  ten  to  twelve  acres ;  where,  as  soon  as  he  was 
fairly  inside  the  gate,  he  commenced  a  series  of  violent  pantomimic 
protestations  against  the  indignity  of  being  mounted ;  nor  was  it  until 
Dick,  having  exhausted  his  entire  vocabulary  of  eqiiine  endearment, 
had  been  forced  to  betake  himself  to  a  course  of  hard  Yorkshire 
swearing,  that  he  could  be  induced  to  stand  still  for  ten  consecutive 
seconds.  That  desideratitm  being  fortunately  attained  just  before 
Dick  became  black  in  the  face  from  the  force  of  the  language  he  was 
compelled  to  employ,  the  groom,  gathering  up  the  reins,  grasped  the 
fi'ont  of  the  saddle  firmly,  and  requested  from  Tirrett  the  favour  of 
a  "  leg  up,"  a  demand  to  which  that  young  gentleman  responded 
by  seizing  him  by  the  right  knee,  and  flinging  him  recklessly  upward 
into  space,  whence  by  a  special  mercy  he  descended  on  the  saddle, 
and  therefore  on  the  back  of  Don  Pasquale.  Then  that  noble 
quadruped  tried  to  obtain  forcible  possession  of  his  own  head,  with 
the  felonious  intention  of  careering  madly  round  the  meadow,  and 
annihilating  Dick  in  his  rapid  cai-eer ;  but  the  astute  groom,  fore- 
seeing some  such  catastrophe,  would  by  no  means  permit  liim  to 
accomplish  his  design,  but  retained  possession  of  his  head  by  a 
strong  hand,  a  stout  rein,  and  a  powerful  bit.    Frustrated  in  his 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  273 

amiable  intention,  the  Don  appeared  determined  to  prove  to  society 
at  large  that,  if  he  had  lost  his  head,  he  at  all  events  possessed  the 
f  i-ee  use  (not  to  say  abuse)  of  his  limbs  ;  so  he  pranced,  and  sidled, 
and  jumped  with  all  four  feet  off  the  ground  at  once,  varying  the 
performance  by  alternately  kicking  and  rearing,  until  he  had  in  that 
rash  and  inconsiderate  manner  made  the  circuit  of  the  paddock, 
when,  finding  his  rider  clung  to  the  saddle  with  an  adhesive  perti- 
nacity which  rendered  the  prol^ability  of  throwing  him  completely  a 
forlorn  hope,  he  apparently  gave  the  matter  up  in  despair,  dropped 
quietly  into  the  habits  and  customs  of  ordinary  horses,  and  permitted 
himself  to  be  ridden  hither  and  thither  at  his  master's  and  his 
master's  master's  pleasure. 

"  Take  him  by  at  a  slow  trot,  then  at  a  fast,  then  at  a  canter,"  was 
Tin-ett's  first  direction ;  when  this  had  been  complied  with,  he 
continued,  "  Now  take  him  over  the  leaping-bar."  Dick,  who  seemed 
devoid  of  all  individuality  of  will,  and  to  exist  only  in  order  to  do  as 
he  was  bid,  without  the  slightest  reference  to  its  compatibility  with 
the  safety  of  his  own  life  and  limbs,  immediately  turned  to  obey;  but 
Don  Pasquale,  whatever  degree  of  fondness  he  had  evinced  for 
gymnastic  exercises  on  his  own  account,  clearly  had  not  the  smallest 
inclination  to  i^erform  such  feats  for  the  pleasure  of  others :  thus, 
when  brought  up  to  the  leaping-bar,  he  not  only  refused  to  go  over 
it,  but  actually  turned  his  "  head  where  was  his  tail,"  and  dashed 
ofE  in  a  diametrically  opposite  direction.  But  it  was  of  no  avail ; 
Dick,  once  mounted,  was  immovable,  inexorable  ;  moreover,  he  wore 
a  ])air  of  singularly  sharp  spurs,  with  which  he  had  a  disagreeable 
habit  of  excoriating  the  sides  of  any  cantankerous  quadruped  he 
might  bestride.  So,  after  fight  number  two,  the  Don  was  again 
conquered,  and  taken  over  the  leaping-bar,  which  he  cleared  in 
gallant  style.  "  That  will  do,  bring  him  here,"  continued  Tirrett ; 
"he  scarcely  shows  lame  at  all;  but  he's  too  fresh,  his  temper 
appears  too  plainly,  he  wants  severe  exercise.  Will  the  fore-leg 
stand  training  for  a  race,  do  you  think  ?  " 

"  Yell,  if  ve  has  the  doing  of  it.  Master  Phil ;  so  as  we  can  humour 
liim,  and  doctor  him,  and  vork  him  only  on  the  soft  turf,  and  little 
and  often,  not  to  overtire  the  back  sinews,  do  yer  see ;  and  keep  him 
cold-bandaged  at  night ;  and  so  work  the  horacle  that  fashion,  the 
thing  may  be  done  without  making  a  mull  on  it." 

Tirrett  removed  his  hat,  passed  his  fingers  through  his  hair,  re- 
placed it  again,  thought  for  a  moment,  once  more  felt  the  suspicious 
back  sinews,  shook  his  head,  and  then  resumed  :  "  Keep  him  out  for 
the  next  two  hours ;  give  it  him  sufficiently  stiff  to  take  the  devil 
completely  out  of  him  ;  then  feed  and  clean  him,  and  have  him  ready 
to  show  by  half-past  eight.  Get  yourself  dressed,  too,  for  if  I  sell 
the  horse  I  shall  let  you  go  with  him  for  a  time — you  understand ; 
but  you  shall  have  full  directions  when  I  see  my  way  clearly.  Now 
I  must  be  off ;  you  need  not  come  in,  I  can  get  the  mare  myself. 
Take  him  over  that  bar  again  once  or  twice ;  it  won't  do  for  him  to 


274  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

shirk  it  wlieii  I'm  sliowin^^  him — remember,  half -past  eight."  So 
saying,  Tirrett  returned  to  the  stable,  brought  out  his  mare,  re- 
mounted, and  rode  off  at  the  same  speed  as  that  at  which  he  had 
arinved. 

When  he  reached  the  livery  stable  whence  he  had  procured  the 
mare,  it  still  wanted  a  quarter  of  seven ;  calling  a  cab,  he  drove 
without  delay  to  a  small  street  in  the  neighboiu-hood  of  Leicester 
Square,  and  rang  twice  at  one  of  the  houses  without  producing  any 
result,  but  a  third  and  more  strenuous  application  of  the  bell-pull 
uneai-thed  a  curl-papered  and  slip-shod  maid-servant,  who  replied  to 
his  inquiry,  "  Whether  the  captain  was  at  home  ?  "  that  he  was  in 
bed  and  asleep,  for  aught  she  knew  to  the  contrary.  "  Show  me  his 
room,"  was  the  reply.  The  girl  scrutinized  him  with  a  doubtful  air, 
which  TiiTett,  perceiving,  continued,  "  It's  all  right,  my  good  girl, 
I'm  not  a  dun ; "  at  the  same  time  he  placed  a  shilling  in  her  hand, 
and,  her  scruples  vanishing  at  the  magic  touch  of  silver,  she  led  the 
way  up  two  flights  of  stairs,  then,  tapping  at  a  bedroom  door,  she 
exclaimed, — 

"  Here's  a  gentleman  to  see  you.  Captain."  TiiTett,  without 
farther  announcement,  opened  the  door  and  walked  in ;  thereby 
relieving  the  gallant  tenant  of  the  apartment  from  an  alarming 
suspicion  which  was  continually  haunting  him. 

"  Ar,  Phil  me  boy,  and  I'm  glad  to  see  you  are  your  own  self  then, 
and  not  a  sheriff's  officer.  What  has  brought  ye  here  at  this 
onconscionably  early  hour  of  the  night  ?  Have  ye  set  the  Thames  on 
fire,  or  bolted  with  the  Bank  of  England  ?  " 

"Neither,"  was  the  reply;  "both  exploits  are  more  in  your  way 
than  mine  ;  but  I've  not  a  minute  to  lose.  I've  just  come  back  from 
the  stables  at  Shark's  Farm,  and  I'm  to  drive  that  green  goose,  with 
a  handle  to  his  name,  down  to  look  at  the  horse  at  eight  o'clock." 

"  You've  got  his  Lordship  so  far  as  that,  have  ye  ?  'Pon  me 
conscience,  you're  a  clever  lad,  and  your  father  ought  to  be  proud 
of  ye,"  was  the  complimentary  remark  this  announcement  drew 
forth. 

Unheeding  it,  Tirrett  continued  :  "  And  now.  Captain,  before  we 
go  any  farther,  let  us  come  to  a  clear  understanding ;  the  matter,  I 
think,  at  present  stands  thus  :  I  sold  you  the  horse  for  200  guineas, 
and  half  everything  he  might  win  during  the  ensuing  year ;  100  you 
paid  out  of  your  Derby  winnings,  100  you  still  owe  me;  you  next 
made  a  foolish  bet,  when  you  wei-e  half  screwed,  that  the  horse  could 
perform  an  impossible  leap,  and  in  attempting  it  thi-ew  him  dowm 
and  lamed  him  ;  from  that  lameness  he  has  wonderfully  recovered — 
sound  I  never  expect  him  to  get ;  though,  with  care  and  manage- 
ment, he  ;may  now  be  sold  and  trained ;  but  how  are  we  to  arrange 
about  terms  ?  " 

"  Terms,  indeed  !  "  was  the  astonished  reply.  "  Why,  I'll  pay  you 
your  second  hundred  out  of  the  price  I  get  for  him ;  and  well  content 
ye  should  be  with  your  good  luck, — for  if  the  nag  had  gone  to  the 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  275 

bad,  it's  more  kicks  tlian  ha'pence  ye'd  liave  got  from  Terence 
O'Brien." 

"Won't  do,  Captain,"  was  the  cool  rejoinder:  "I  must  have  the 
hundred  down,  and  half  whatever  you  get  beyond.  Why,  there's  a 
bill  of  thirty  pounds  from  the  '  vet.'  for  time  and  medicines,  besides 
the  half  share  of  the  winnings  which  I  lose  by  your  selling  him." 

The  angry  discussion  which  ensued,  and  which  ended  in  O'Brien's 
obtaining  terms  slightly  more  favourable  for  himself,  we  will  not 
inflict  on  the  reader;  suffice  it  to  say  that,  ere  the  associates  parted, 
all  their  differences  were  reconciled,  and  their  alliance  likely  to  be 
cemented  more  firmly  than  ever,  by  their  proposed  inroad  on  the 
credulity  and  cash  of  Lord  Alfred  Courtland. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

KATE   BEGINS   TO   REAP   THE   WHIRLWIND. 

Kate  Crane  was  the  eldest  of  a  large  family  ;  two  children  younger 
than  herseK  had  died  in  infancy,  so  that  her  next  brother  was  five 
years  her  junior.  He  was  a  fine,  high-spirited  lad,  generous  to  a 
fault,  as  wilful  and  determined  as  his  sister,  but  unfortunately  with- 
out her  power  of  self-control  or  steadiness  of  principle.  Thus 
constituted,  he  was  at  once  the  darling  and  the  torment  of  his 
family.  Through  Mr.  Crane's  interest  he  had  obtained  a  good 
position  in  a  large  mercantile  establishment  in  the  City,  where, 
though  Kate  had  at  first  entertained  considerable  apprehensions  as 
to  his  steadiness,  he  appeared  to  be  going  on  satisfactorily. 

One  moraing,  about  three  weeks  after  the  date  of  the  occun-ences 
we  have  related,  Mr.  Crane  having  as  usual  departed  for  the  City  to 
coin  money,  the  mid-day  post  brought  the  following  letter  for  his 
wife : — 

"  Dearest  Kate, — It  is  with  reluctance  that  I  take  up  my  pen  to 
ask  you  whether  it  will  inconvenience  you  to  pay  me  a  part  of  the 
next  quarter's  allowance  you  so  generously  make  us,  in  advance. 
You  know  well  how  I  strive  and  struggle  to  keep  down  our  expenses, 
without  depriving  your  dear  father  (who,  I  grieve  to  say,  gets  weaker 
and  weaker)  of  the  comforts  which  his  declining  health  renders 
daily  more  necessary  for  him.  My  best  endeavours  cannot,  however' 
prevent  some  of  the  tradesmen's  bills  from  getting  in  arrear, — the 
fearful  expense  of  your  father's  illness  absorbing  the  addition  to  our 


276  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

income  which  your  kind  husband's  liberality  has  enabled  you  to  make. 
Such  a  difficulty  is  now  pressinf?  upon  me,  and  induces  me  to  apply 
to  you.  If  you  can  help  me,  I  am  sure  you  will ;  if  you  are  unable 
to  do  so,  I  can  only  trust  that  the  beneficent  Providence  who  has 
hitherto  supported  me  under  my  heavy  trials  will  not  now  desert  me. 
Believe  me  to  remain,  dearest  Kate, 

"  Ever  yom*  affectionate  mother, 

"  Rachel  Marsden." 

"  P.S. — I  am  uneasy  aboitt  Fred ;  his  letters  have  been  short  and 
unsatisfactoi'y  for  some  time ;  and  for  the  last  three  weeks  he  haa 
not  written  to  me  at  all.  I  wish  you  would  see  him,  and  endeavour 
to  learn  from  him  how  he  employs  his  evenings,  &c.  You  will  think 
my  fears  unreasonal^le ;  but  you  know  how  fond  and  proud  we  both 
are  of  our  boy.  If  anything  were  to  po  wrong  with  him,  in  your 
father's  present  stat^  of  debility,  I  believe  it  would  be  his  death- 
blow." 

Kate's  first  impulse  on  reading  the  above  epistle  was  to  fly  to  her 
writing-desk — ten,  twenty,  thirty  pounds,  was  all  that  remained :  the 
liberal  assistance  she  had  bestowed  on  Mrs.  Leonard  and  her  family 
having  reduced  her  finances  to  this  low  ebb.  Reserving  only  five 
poimds  for  her  own  use,  she  immediately  dispatched  a  hun-ied 
answer,  enclosing  an  order  for  five-and-twenty  pounds,  and  explain- 
ing, in  general  terms,  the  reason  of  her  inability  to  render  her  parents 
more  effectual  assistance,  promising  to  be  more  cai-eful  of  their 
interest  for  the  future. 

As  she  was  desiring  the  servant  to  ix)st  her  letter  without  delay,  a 
shai-p  knock  at  the  street-door  caused  her  to  start,  and  she  had 
barely  time  to  close  her  writing-desk,  ere  Mr.  Frederick  Marsden  was 
announced,  and  a  tall,  handsome  lad  entered. 

"  Why,  Fx-ed,  how  is  this  ?  away  from  business  at  this  hour !  what 
will  that  tremendous  individual,  the 'Head  of  the  Firm,'  say  to 
you  ? "  inquired  Kate,  with  an  attempt  at  gaiety  which  scarcely 
concealed  an  undefined  dread  of  something  having  gone  wrong,  with 
which  her  brother's  unexpected  arrival,  and  the  information  contained 
in  her  mother's  letter,  had  inspired  her. 

Young  Marsden  waited  until  the  sei'vant  had  quitted  the  room, 
then,  meeting  his  sister's  glance  steadily,  he  replied, — 

"  It  does  not  much  signify  what  he  might  say,  Kate,  for  I  no 
longer  am  a  member  of  his  establishment." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  You  have  surely  never  been  so  mad — so 
ungrateful  to  Mr.  Crane — so  cruel  to  oiu-  mother,  as  to  throw  up  your 
appointment ! " 

*'  Do  not  add  to  my  misfortimes  by  upbraiding  me,  for  I  am 
wretched  enough  as  it  is ;  or,  at  all  events,  hear  what  I  have  to  tell 
you  first,"  was  the  reply. 

Kate  made  a  gesture  for  him  to  continue;  and  he  immediately 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  277 

bepran  an  eager,  hurried  recital  of  bis  troixbles  and  difficulties.  It 
■was  the  old  story — poverty  and  pride,  temptation  resisted  often, 
yielded  to  once ;  and  that  once  effacing  in  a  moment  the  recollection 
and  results  of  the  repeat-ed  resistance.  Youth  and  impetuosity,  led 
astray  by  high  and  generous  impulses,  without  judgment  to  control 
them ;  meanness  and  malevolence  profiting  thereby  to  effect  the  poor 
boy's  ruin.  And  as  he  stood  before  her,  with  his  fair  clustering  hair 
in  wild  disorder,  his  bright  cheeks  glowing  with  contrition  for  the 
past,  and  real,  earnest,  good  i-esolutions  for  the  future, — with  the 
tear-di-op  sparkling  in  his  bright  blue  eye,  suggesting  the  childhood 
from  which  he  had  so  lately  emerged,  while  the  compression  of  the 
short,  stem  upper  lip  indicated  the  approach  of  the  full  rich  man- 
hood into  which,  if  the  world  will  but  grant  him  forbearance  for  the 
present  and  fair  play  for  the  future,  he  will  surely  develop, — what 
wonder  that  his  sister,  deeming  him  more  sinned  against  than 
sinning,  shoi;ld  press  him  to  her  warm  woman's  heart,  as  she 
murmured, — 

"  My  poor  boy !  don't  make  yourself  so  miserable ;  we  must  see 
what  can  be  done  to  help  you." 

When,  however,  she  had  in  some  degree  succeeded  in  calming  his 
emotion,  and  they  came  quietly  to  review  his  position,  the  said 
question  of  "  What  could  be  done  to  help  him  ?  "  appeai-ed  no  easy 
one  to  answer. 

The  son  of  his  late  employer,  and  junior  partner  in  the  establish- 
ment— a  dissipated  and  unprincipled  young  man— had,  on  Fred 
Marsden's  first  arrival,  taken,  or  pretended  to  take,  an  extreme  fancy 
to  him,  introduced  him  to  his  sporting  acquaintance,  and  made  him 
his  constant  companion.  The  first  fruits  of  this  ill-assorted  alliance 
were,  that  the  high-spii-ited  boy,  eager  to  vie  with  his  associates,  was 
led  almost  unconsciously  into  expenses,  which  soon  left  him  first 
penniless,  then  in  debt. 

In  debt! — to  owe  a  few  shillings,  a  few  pounds,  appears  a  mere 
trifle — an  imprudence,  perhaps,  but  scarcely  a  sin ;  or  if  a  sin,  a  veiy 
venial  one — a  peccadillo,  nothing  more.  Believe  it  not !  the  fact  of 
owing  that  which,  if  it  be  required  of  him,  a  man  cannot  pay,  is  the 
step  across  the  Rubicon  between  honesty  and  dishonesty,  between 
honour  and  dishonour,  between  being  a  free  agent  or  a  bond-slave. 
To  be  in  debt  is  to  forfeit  self-respect ;  to  lose  self-respect  is  to  lose 
the  practical  i-esult  of  obedience  to  the  guiding  principles  of  religion 
and  morality;  a  loss  too  soon  followed  by  a  distaste  for  the  holy 
things  thus  dishonom-ed,  by  a  relaxation  of  all  attempts  at  self- 
improvement,  by  a  reckless  indifference  to  the  opinion  of  the  good 
and  the  true : — the  stone  set  rolling  gathers  speed  from  its  own 
impetus;  the  wedge  inserted,  the  seam  widens,  and  the  stoutest  oak 
is  riven.  Let  a  young  man  be  once  in  debt,  and  no  helping  hand 
stretched  out  to  save  him  from  the  consequences  of  his  imprudence 
before  the  sense  of  shame  has  depai-ted,  and  the  dereliction  of  duty 
acquired  the  fatal  force  of  habit,  and  it  does  not  require  any  very 


278  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

profound  experience  of  life  to  prophesy  his  future  career.  No  one 
who  has  witnessed  the  mean  siabterf  uges — the  palti-y  evasions — the 
shameless  encroachment  on  kindness— the  parasitical  cringinpr  to 
opulence,  which  the  burden  of  debt  forces  on  natures  not  originally 
deficient  in  generosity  and  delicacy  of  feeling,  but  must  dread  for 
those  near  or  dear  to  him  the  first  downward  step  towards  this  abyss 
of  misery,  and  exert  every  nerve  to  restrain  them,  ere  it  be  too 
late. 

Frederick  Marsden,  ignorant  as  a  child  of  the  value  of  money,  and 
imagining  his  salary  calculated  to  supply  his  every  ftincy,  had  spent 
it  at  least  three  times  over,  ere  the  uncomfortable  possibility  of 
being  in  debt  occuiTcd  to  him  ;  and  when  he  did  open  his  eyes  to  the 
fact,  his  pseudo-friend  soon  quieted  his  scriiples  by  lending  him  a 
sum — not  indeed  sufficient  to  defray  his  debts,  but  to  enable  him  to 
continue  his  career  of  extravagance  a  little  longer.  But  the  delusion 
was  soon  rudely  dispelled :  after  a  wine-party,  at  which  Marsden 
had  drunk  quite  as  much,  and  his  friend  considerably  more  than  was 
good  for  him,  the  latter,  returning  home,  chose  to  follow  and  insult 
an  unprotected  girl.  Fred  attempted  to  restrain  him,  but  in  vain ; 
and  on  his  instituting  a  more  vigorous  remonstrance,  a  quan-el 
ensued,  in  which,  heated  by  wine  and  anger,  the  junior  partner 
struck  his  subordinate,  by  whom  he  was  immediately  knocked  down 
in  return.  Becoming  from  this  moment  Frederick's  bitter  enemy, 
he  commenced  a  series  of  petty  persecutions,  to  which  the  high- 
spirited  boy  submitted  with  unexpected  patience,  until  on  one 
occasion,  stung  beyond  his  powers  of  endm-ance  by  some  unjust 
indignity  inflicted  on  him  in  the  presence  of  several  of  his  fellow- 
clerks,  he  gave  vent  to  his  anger,  and  was  instantly  summoned  before 
the  head  of  the  firm,  and  only  saved  himself  from  dismissal  by  taking 
the  initiative,  and  resigning  his  situation, 

"  And  now,  Kate,"  he  continued,  "  I  have  told  you  the  whole 
truth ;  I  own  myself  to  blame,  I  see  where  I  have  been  weak  and 
foolish,  where  I  have  been  headstrong  and  impetuous ;  and  I  admit 
that  by  contracting  these  debts  which  are  weighing  me  do^vn,  and 
paralyzing  any  efforts  I  might  hope  to  make  to  regain  my  character 
and  position,  I  have  acted  weakly,  and— and" — (with  a  choking  sob) 
— "  almost  dishonestly ; — "  he  paused,  then  added,  "  and  now,  seeing  all 
this,  feeling  it  most  deeply ;  anxious  only  to  retrieve  the  past,  or  if 
that  is  impossible,  at  all  events  to  do  better  for  the  future,  how  am  I 
to  carry  out  my  intentions — how  prove  to  my  poor  mother  that  I  am 
in  earnest  ?  Oh,  Kate,  dear  Kate,  help  me— advise  me  !  I  know  I 
don't  desei-ve  it ;  but  I  have  nobody  but  you  to  look  to ! " 

Thiis  appealed  to,  Kate  would  not  have  been  the  true  woman  she 
was,  had  she  hesitated.  Fred  had  acted  wrongly,  foolishly,  but  he  had 
one  nothing  unmanly  or  mean  ;  he  was  her  own  dear  brother  stiU, 
and  all  the  assistance  in  her  power  she  would  render  him  gladly.  But 
what  was  in  her  power  ?  there  was  the  rub.  What  were  his  own  ideas  ? 
Had  he  any  friends,  any  future  prospects  ?    Friends  likely  to  assist 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  279 

him  lie  had  none — future  prospects  he  had  plenty,  but  they  were 
very  hazy.  He  should  like  to  go  out  to  India— could  Mr.  Crane  get 
him  a  cadetship,  or  anything  else  which  would  enable  him  to  earn  his 
own  living  ?  Kate  did  not  know.  Mr.  Crane  would,  of  course,  be 
very  angry,  but  she  would  talk  to  him,  and  see  what  could  be  done  ; 
these  debts  were  the  worst  part  of  the  alfair— did  Fred  know  their 
amount  ? 

Fi-ed  was  not  exactly  aware  of  their  uncomfortable  total,  but  was 
afraid  they  could  not  be  less  than  ^150:  and  a  peculiar  feature  in 
the  case  was,  that  the  tradesmen  appeared  by  instinct  to  have  dis- 
covered  his  altered  prospects,  and  were  all  sending  in  their  bills  at 
once,  and  clamouring  for  payment.  And  so  while  they  schemed  and 
devised,  and  hoped,  the  time  slipped  away,  imtil  it  approached  the 
hour  at  which  Mr.  Crane  usually  returned,  when  Frederick  grew 
alarmed,  and  would  by  no  means  risk  meeting  him  until  Kate  had 
talked  to  him  well— from  which  colloquial  process  he  seemed  to 
expect  extraordinary  results  :  thereby  proving  that  this  young 
fellow,  however  deficient  he  might  be  upon  most  points  of  worldly 
knowledge,  was  not  wholly  ignorant  of  some  of  the  ai'cana  of  mamed 
life ;  especially  of  those  private  enactments  relating  to  the  mainte- 
nance of  the  proper  authority,  rule,  and  goventiance  of  the  wife  over 
that  legal  and  clerical  fiction,  her  loi'd  and  master. 

When  her  brother  had  left  her,  Kate  sat  down,  and  endeavoured 
to  review  quietly  and  dispassionately  the  circumstances  of  the  case. 
Her  brother  must  be  saved  at  all  hazards  ;  as  a  first  step,  his  debts 
must  be  paid;  to  do  this  .£150  were  required,  and  she  possessed 
exactly  ^5,  and  would  not  receive  any  more  for  another  month.  She 
must  apply  to  her  husband,  that  was  clear ;  and  now  she  should  reap 
the  advantage  of  her  sacrifice.  Had  she  married  Arthur  Hazlehurst, 
knowing  that  every  farthing  he  possessed  was  acquired  by  his  mental 
labour,  she  could  not  have  ventured  to  ask  him— it  would  have  been 
unfair  to  him,  wrong  on  her  part ;  but  now  the  case  was  different. 
What  were  a  couple  of  hundred  pounds  to  a  man  whose  income  was 
reported  to  be  .£20,000  a  year?  True,  Fi-ed  had  thrown  up  the 
appointment  which  Mr.  Crane  had  obtained  for  him ;  this  she  knew 
would  offend  and  vex  him  :  worse  still.  Fred  had  run  in  debt— a  sin 
which,  as  he  had  no  temptation  to  it  himself,  her  husband  regarded 
with  the  gi-eatest  hoiTor.  He  would  be  very  angry  with  Fi-ed,  and 
perhaps  refuse  to  assist  him.  No  doubt  she  had  great  influence  with 
him,  and  where  money  would  in  any  way  make  a  show,  as  in  the  matter 
of  carriages  and  horses,  plate,  jewellery,  and  the  like,  he  was  liberal 
in  the  extreme ;  but  on  other  points  he  was  strangely  parsimonious. 
She  had  never  known  him  give  a  sixpence  away  in  charity  since  she 
had  been  married  ;  and  all  such  appeals  invariably  in-itated  him,  and 
threw  him  into  a  state  of  dogged  obstinacy,  in  which  it  was  perfectly 
impossible  to  influence  or  in  any  way  control  his  actions.  Her  pride 
rebelled  against  asking  him  a  favour,  even  for  her  brother's  sake  ; 
but  the  mental  suffering  Kate  had  gone  through  since  we  first  made 


280  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

her  acquaintance,  had  given  her  truer  views  on  certain  important 
points,  and  she  had  begun  to  perceive  pride  to  be  one  of  the  rocks  on 
which  she  had  shipwi-ecked  her  happiness,  and  had  learned  to  mis- 
trust it  accordingly.  Occupied  by  such  thoughts  as  these,  she,  for 
the  first  time  in  her  married  life,  sat  awaiting  her  husband's  return 
with  a  feeling  of  mingled  anxiety  and  impatience.  At  last  the  ex. 
pected  knock  sounded,  and  in  due  time  Mr.  Crane  made  his  appear- 
ance in  the  drawing-room  ;  his  greeting  to  his  wife  ran  thus  : — 

"  Really,  my  dear,  I  must  be  excused  for  observing  that  I  know  no 
door  in  London  at  which  I  am  kept  waiting  so  long  as  at  my  own. 
I  am  sure  my  establishment  costs  me  money  enough  ;  but  the  better 
servants  are  paid,  and  the  more  they're  indulged,  the  more  useless  they 
become.  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  I've  taken  cold  standing  there. 
I  did  hope — no  doubt  it  was  unreasonable  of  me — but  I  certainly  did 
expect  when  I  married,  that  a  household  conducted  on  so  liberal  a  scale 
as — I  must  be  allowed  to  remark — mine  is,  would  be  well  regulated  ; 
that  the  eye  of  a  mistress  would  see  whether  the  domestic  duties  were 
performed  properly." 

He  paused,  so  evidently  expecting  a  reply,  that  Kate  felt  it  in- 
cumbent on  her  to  say  something,  so  she  began, — 

"  If  Thomas  is  inattentive,  you  should  desire  Roberts  to  reprove 
him  ;  and  if  that  does  not  produce  the  desii'ed  effect,  give  him  warning 
and  let  him  go." 

"  Yes,  it  is  easy  to  say,  '  Let  him  go,'  but  you  forget  that  one  has 
to  teach  a  new  servant  all  one's  habits  and  wishes.  Thomas  has 
lived  with  me  for  some  years,  and  though  at  times  he  is  slow  and 
dilatory,  yet  he  knows  my  ways — not  that  I  require  much  waiting  on  ; 
thank  Heaven,  I  can  wait  upon  myself :  still,  I  am  not  going  to  part 
with  a  faithful  servant  merely  to  satisfy — if  I  may  be  allowed  the 
expression — female  caprice." 

Having  delivei'ed  himself  of  this  sensible  and  consistent  opinion, 
Mr.  Crane  solemnly  stalked  off  to  prepare  for  dinner.  Poor  Kate  ! 
she  had  by  this  time  become  acquainted  with  her  husband's  small 
and  di'eary  peculiarities,  and  she  perceived,  from  his  fretful,  in-itable 
manner,  that  something  had  occurred  to  disquiet  him  in  the  course 
of  the  morning.  It  was  clear  that  this  was  no  favourable  moment  in 
which  to  make  her  appeal ;  and  yet  time  pressed.  She  trusted  the 
dinner  would  produce  a  tranquillizing  effect  on  him ;  and  she  must 
choose  a  favourable  opportunity,  while  he  was  sitting  over  his  wine, 
to  introduce  the  subject  of  her  brother's  troubles  and  indiscretions. 

Mr.  Crane  [reappeared  with  a  gloomy  brow ;  he  had  been  obliged 
to  wash  his  hands  in  cold  water — the  hot  was  a  perfect  sea  of  blacks. 
"  Why  were  his  things  not  put  out  for  him  to  dress  ?  "  Kate  believed 
they  had  been ;  unless  she  was  very  much  mistaken,  she  had  seen 
them  laid  out  in  his  dressing-room.  "  What,  his  dress  shoes  ?  "  Kate 
did  not  remember  to  have  seen  the  shoes.  "  No  !  he  should  think  not ; 
the  shoes  were  what  he  was  particularly  alluding  to — they  were  not  put 
out :  ou  the  contrary,  it  took  him  quite  five  minutes  to  hunt  for  them. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  281 

But  it  was  always  the  case — few  things  as  he  required,  those  few 
were  certain  to  be  neglected ; "  and  in  this  strain  did  he  bewail  him- 
self, until,  to  Kate's  inexpressible  relief,  dinner  was  announced. 

Without  being  exactly  a  gourmand,  Mr.  Crane  took  a  deep  and 
solemn  interest  in  his  dinner,  the  cooking  of  which  he  criticized  with 
equal  acumen  and  severity.  On  the  present  occasion  he  helped  him. 
self  to  soup,  and  tasted  the  first  spoonful  with  an  air  of  anxious 
inquiry.  As  he  became  aware  of  the  flavour,  his  countenance  fell, 
and  the  shadow  on  his  brow  darkened. 

"  Have  you  tasted  that  compound,  Mrs.  Crane  ?  "  he  asked,  in  a 
tone  indicative  of  deep  but  tragic  feeling. 

"  It's  rather  salt,  is  it  not  ?  "  returned  Kate. 

"  Rather  salt !  it's  brine,  made  with  sea- water,  I'm  certain !  such 
a  deleterious  mixture  as  that  is  siu'e  to  disagree  with  me  :  the  way 
they  dress  my  food  in  this  house  is  undermining  my  constitution — 
bringing  me  to  my  grave !  I'm  certain  of  it !  Roberts,  take  that 
do-v\Ti  to  Mrs.  Trimmins,  and  tell  her  I  can't  touch  it ;  and  mind 
such  stufE  as  that  does  not  come  lap  again.  That's  the  way  money  is 
wasted  in  this  family;  that  woman  gets  the  best  and  most  expensive 
materials,  and  then,  just  because  she  has  not  to  pay  for  them  herself, 
goes  and  spoils  them  by  her  unpardonable  carelessness — it's  too  bad ! 
— oyster  sauce.    My  dear  Kate,  you've  given  me  no  sounds  now !  " 

"Really."  rejoined  Kate,  colouring  with  annoyance,  and  making 
vigorous  but  fruitless  pokes  at  the  cod  with  the  fish-slice,  "  really,  I'm 
afraid  there  are  no  sounds  with  this  fish." 

"  No  sounds  !  "  repeated  Mr.  Crane,  in  a  high,  whimpering  falsetto ; 
"  codfish  and  no  soimds !  the  only  part,  as  Mrs.  Trimmins  knows, 
that  I  care  about !  Serve  up  a  codfish  without  sounds !  No,  really 
this  cannot  be  allowed  to  go  on ;  there's  no  man  cares  less  about  his 
eating  than  I  do.  Take  it  away,  Roberts,  I  shall  not  touch  a  bit.  A 
crust  of  bread  and  cheese,  if  it  is  but  clean  and  wholesome,  is  all  I 
require ;  still,  when  I  do  sit  down  to  a  dinner,  I  like  to  have  that 
dinner  fit  to  eat.  As  a  bachelor,  I  put  up  with  such  annoyances ;  if 
they  spoilt  one's  dinner,  one  dined  at  one's  club  for  the  next  week, 
and  so  gave  the  cook  a  hint,  which  rendered  her  more  careful ;  but  I 
own,  when  I  married,  I  did  hope  that  these  things  might  be  remedied  ; 
that  while  I  was  out,  working  hard  from  breakfast  till  dinner-time, 
to  provide  funds  for  all  these  expenses,  the  eye  of  a  mistress  might 
have  been  applied  to  an  occasional  inspection  of  her  household  ;  and 
that  her  husband's  comfort  would  have  been  a  fitter  study  for  an 
amiable  and  domestic  character  than  the  immoral  and  pernicious 
wa-itings  of  German  and  French  novelists.  Take  that  horrible  joint 
up  to  your  mistress,  Roberts,  and  bring  me  the  cutlets  and  tomato 
sauce.  I  should  have  thought  Mrs.  Trimmins  might  have  known  by 
this  time  how  much  I  dislike  a  great  coarse  leg  of  mutton  ;  but  I 
suppose  your  rural  tastes  lead  you  to  prefer  it  to  a  more  refined  style 
of  cookery,  in  which  case  I  must  only  request  that  your  favourite 
dish  may  always  be  placed  at  your  end  of  the  table ;  I  declare  the 


282  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

sigM  of  it  is  enougli  to  destroy  my  appetite,  and  makes  me  quite  un- 
comfortable ! " 

"  Don't  you  think  there  may  be  a  little  fancy  in  that  P  "  returned 
Kate,  as  cutlet  and  tomato  sauce  at  last  filled  Mr.  Crane's  mouth, 
and  stopped  his  gi-umbling  monologue ;  "  I  cannot  help  thinking 
good  roast  meat  must  contain  more  nourishment,  and  for  that  reason 
be  more  wholesome  than  made  dishes." 

A  struggle  between  his  rising  anger  and  his  descending  food 
having  occasioned  a  fit  of  choking,  which  did  not  tend  to  increase 
his  general  amiability,  Mr.  Crane,  as  soon  as  he  was  sufl&ciently 
recovered,  continued, — 

"  Unless  it  may  be  for  the  sake  of  contradicting  me,  my  dear,  I 
cannot  conceive — ugh !  ugh  ! — I  cannot  conceive  why  you  should 
imagine  it  possible  you  can  form  a  judgment  about  the  matter;  with 
such  a  strong — I  may  say  Hei-culean — digestion  as  you  are  gifted 
with,  how  should  you  guess  how  these  things  affect  a  delicate  organi- 
zation like  mine  ?  Toil  can  doiibtless  eat  these  feai-f  ul  legs  of  mutton 
with  impunity ;  but  were  you  to  eat  the  legs  of  a  horse — as  I  verily 
believe  you  could — that  would  be  no  argument  in  favour  of  dieting 
me  on  dog's  meat.  I  know  you  think  me  fanciful ;  your  more  robust 
temperament  does  not  enable  you  to  sympathize  with  the  difficulties 
my  delicate,  sensitive  digestion  subjects  me  to — ugh !  " 

"  The  better  way  will  be  to  give  the  housekeeper  a  general  order 
never  again  to  send  a  leg  of  mutton  up  to  table,"  returned  Kate ;  "  I 
have  no  especial  predilection  for  the  joint,  and  can  dine  quite  as 
satisfactorily  on  anything  else." 

"  No,  my  dear ;  I  beg  you  will  give  no  such  order.  I  am  not  of 
such  a  selfish  disposition  as  to  wish  the  dinner  ordered  merely  with 
a  view  to  my  likes  and  dislikes  ;  neither  is  it  my  desire  to  curtail  any 
of  your  enjoyments,  however  much  I  may  regret  that  they  are  not  of 
a  more  refined  or  intellectual  nature  ;— have  your  legs  of  mutton  as 
you  have  been  accustomed  to  have.  I  dare  say  there  will  always  be 
bread  and  cheese  or  cold  meat  in  the  house  ;  thank  Heaven,  I  am  not 
particular,  anything  simple  and  wholesome — give  me  some  wine, 
Roberts  ;  no,  the  Burgundy,  only  half  a  glass — simple  a,nd  wholesome 
does  for  me.  Roberts,  desire  Mrs.  Trimmins  to  take  care  that  she 
provides  a  liberal  supply  of  legs  of  mutton  for  her  mistress." 

"  Really,  Mr.  Crane,  you  mistake  me  ;  I  have  no  particular  prefer- 
ence for  legs  of  nuitton,  I  assm*e — "  began  Kate. 

Mr.  Crane  raised  his  hand  deprecatingly,  and  checked  her  in  mid 
speech. 

"  Quite  enough  has  been  said  on  this  subject,"  he  inteiposed 
severely  ;  "  these  endless  discussions  weary  me.  I  come  home  tired 
and  annoyed  wdth  the  cares,  and  anxieties,  and  fatigues  of  business  : 
and  when  I  seek  for  quiet  and  repose  in  the  bosom  of  my  family,  I 
am  met  by  these  frivolous  and  vexatious  complaints,  my  dinner  made 
a  trial  to  me,  and  my  digestion  upset,  my  constitution  undennined, 
and  my  comfort  in  my  home— my  domestic  comfort,  Mrs.  Crane — 


4 


t 


L^. 


l! 


284  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  I  am  not  likely  to  leani  it  practically  now,  unless  by  trying  liow  I 
can  live  without  it.  I  have  just  five  shillings  left  though  as  I  am  in 
debt,  I  cannot  honestly  call  those  my  own,"  was  the  bitter  re[)ly. 
Tliere  was  a  pause  ;  then  suddenly  raising  his  head,  Frederick  asked 
abruptly,  "  Kate,  have  you  got  any  money  ?  " 

"Never  was  anything  so  unfortunate!"  was  Kate's  answer;  "I 
have  been  at  a  good  deal  of  expense  lately  in  assisting  a  distressed 
family ;  and  yesterday,  just  before  you  came,  I  received  a  letter  from 
mamma,  telling  me  she  was  pressed  for  money  in  consequence  of 
poor  papa's  illness,  and,  excepting  five  pounds,  I  sent  her  every 
ftu-thing  I  had." 

As  she  thus  destroyed  his  last  hope,  her  brother  sprang  to  his  feet, 
and  began  to  pace  the  room  with  hun-ied  strides.  At  length  he 
exclaimed,  "  I'll  not  stay  here  to  beg  or  starve — I'll  enlist  in  a  cavalry 
regiment ;  I'm  quite  six  feet  now,  and  i-ide  under  nine  stone  :  I  should 
not  wonder  if  they'd  take  me  in  the  Lifeguards  or  the  Blues." 

Kate's  only  reply  was  by  a  mournful  and  dissentient  shake  of  the 
head,  and  Frederick  continued, — 

"  What !  you  don't  think  it  gentlemanly  to  enlist  as  a  private  ? 
Well,  it  would  be  a  bore,  having  to  associate  with  the  common  men — 
not  that  I've  any  false  pride  about  me,  but  a  gentleman  can't  help 
being  a  gentleman,  and  I  own  I  should  feel  out  of  my  element.  I 
have  it — I'll  work  my  way  out  as  a  sailor  to  Avistralia,  and  go  to  the 
gold-fields— eh  ?  Gold  is  what  I  want,  you  know.  I'll  dig  up  enough 
to  pay  my  debts,  and  keep  a  decent  coat  on  my  back  for  a  year  or 
two,  and  then  I'U  come  home,  and  be  a  credit  to  you  yet — why  won't 
that  do  ?  " 

"  Think  of  our  poor  mother,  Fred ;  it  would  break  her  heart !  She 
is  so  wrapped  up  in  you — has  always  loved  you  the  best  of  all  her 
children ;  think  of  all  she  has  upon  her  now — you  would  not  add  to 
her  distress !  Oh,  no,  you  must  give  up  all  such  wild  thoughts,  it 
would  be  too  cruel !  " 

As  she  spoke  the  boy  paused  in  his  impetuous  walk,  and  murmur- 
ing, "  I  shall  break  her  heart  any  way,  miserable  wi'etch  that  I  am  !  " 
he  flung  himself  on  the  sofa,  and  gave  vent  to  an  outburst  of  mingled 
shame  and  contrition. 

Kate's  unhappiness  at  witnessing  his  grief — which  she  could 
soothe,  indeed,  but  of  which  she  was  powerless  to  remove  the  cause — 
may  readily  be  imagined.  Having  after  a  time  succeeded  in  subdu. 
ing  his  extreme  sorrow,  of  which  unavailing  self-reproach  formed  the 
sharpest  sting,  Kate  gave  him  thi-ee  out  of  her  five  pounds,  to  pro- 
vide for  his  immediate  necessities,  and  dismissed  him,  promising  to 
take  advantage  of  any  symptoms  of  relenting  which  Mr.  Crane  might 
evince,  again  to  press  her  suit ;  and  the  poor  boy  departed,  in  some 
degree  reassured  by  hopes  of  which,  even  as  she  expatiated  upon 
them,  she  j)erceived  the  probable  fallacy. 

As  soon  as  he  had  quitted  her,  she  sat  down  and  fell  into  a  train  of 
gloomy  and  bitter  reflections.    Tliis  wealth  that  surrounded  hei',  of 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  285 

what  use  was  it  in  her  trouble  ?  None  !  She  could  not  convert  it 
into  money  to  save  her  brother ;  and  its  possession  had  hardened  the 
heai't  of  him  to  whom  she  should  naturally  turn  for  assistance — her 
husband  !  And  as  she  pronounced  the  name,  an  involuntary  shudder 
came  over  her.  She  had  sold  herself  to  a  man  she  despised  for  the 
pood  of  her  family ;  sold  herself  to  save  them  from  the  curse  of 
poverty  ;  and  now,  at  her  utmost  need,  her  self-sacrifice  proved  un- 
availing— the  money  she  required  was  denied  her — her  earnest 
pleadings  were  disregarded — the  evil  she  dreaded  had  come  upon  her 
in  its  bitterest  form,  and  she  was  powerless  to  avert  it.  Was  it  for 
this,  then,  that  she  had  stifled  the  voice  of  affection  in  her  heart — • 
was  it  for  this  she  had  thrown  aside  the  priceless  love  of  Arthur 
Hazlehurst,  and  embittered  his  life  and  her  own  by  so  doing  ?  And 
now  the  harrowing  doubt  which,  from  the  first  hour  in  which  she 
had  conceived  the  project  of  marrying  Mr.  Crane,  to  this  moment  in 
which  the  conviction  of  its  fri;itlessness  was  forced  upon  her,  had 
never  ceased  to  haunt  her,  recurred  with  redoubled  vigour.  In  so 
acting,  had  she  indeed  deceived  herself  ? — had  she,  instead  of 
performing  an  act  of  generous  self-sacrifice,  committed  a  sin  against 
her  better  nature,  for  which  she  had  no  justification,  and  of  which  she 
was  now  paying  the  bitter  penalty  ?  As  she  thought  it  over,  the 
conviction  forced  itself  upon  her,  more  and  more  strongly,  that  she 
had  rebelled  against  the  decrees  of  Providence,  and  sought  to  free 
herself  and  her  family  from  the  cross  He  had  seen  fit  to  lay  upon 
them,  by  unlawful  means ;  that,  blinded  by  the  proiid  and  haughty 
spirit  which  precedes  a  fall,  she  had  done  evil  that  good  might  come : 
she  had  sown  the  wind — what  wonder  that  she  should  reap  the  whirl- 
wind !  It  was  a  cruel  discovery  to  make  now,  when  it  was  too  late 
to  remedy  the  evil ;  but,  fortunately,  Kate  had  a  strong,  brave  spirit 
for  good,  as  well  as  for  evil ;  and  though  this  new  aspect  in  which 
she  regarded  her  past  conduct  occasioned  her  the  deepest  remorse, 
though  it  displayed  her  faults  of  pride  and  overweening  self- 
confidence  in  their  worst  and  most  repulsive  aspect,  yet  she  did  not 
shrink  from  the  scrutiny,  but  honestly  sat  in  judgment  on  herself  ; 
and  where,  weighing  herself  in  the  balance,  she  was  found  wanting, 
she  recognized  the  deficiency,  and  unhesitatingly  acknowledged  her 
transgression.  Yes  !  she  saw  it  clearly,  now  it  was  too  late — in  the 
deep,  earnest,  tender  affection  of  Arthur  Hazlehurst,  Heaven  had 
bestowed  upon  her  an  inestimable  blessing,  which  she  had  no  right 
to  cast  from  her.  By  so  doing  she  had  inflicted  the  bitterest  wound 
man  can  receive  on  him  who  thus  had  given  her  his  all  of  love — 
a  woimd  which  time  indeed  may  heal  superficially,  but  which 
contimies  to  throb  and  bleed  internally  while  life  remains; — that 
death-blow  to  hope  which  the  heart  receives,  when  the  conviction  is 
forced  upon  it  that  the  idol  enshrined  in  its  inmost  recesses  is  un- 
worthy  of  such  holy  sanctuary. 

Well,  she  had  chosen  her  lot,  and  m^^st  abide  by  it ;  repining  was 
worse  than  useless  ;  all  chance  of  happiness  she  had  forfeited  by  her 


286  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

own  act ;  but  there  still  remained  to  her  tlie  possibility  of  resi^a- 
tion,  wbicb,  persevered  in,  mierlit  produce  contentment.  Could  she 
gain  that,  and  the  self -approval  of  her  own  conscience,  life  might 
become  endurable,  after  all.  But,  to  obtain  this,  one  path  alone  was 
open  to  her — the  rigid  path  of  duty.  She  had  done  Mr.  Crane 
sufficient  wrong  in  marrying  him  without  affection,  and  for  the  sake 
of  expediency  :  if  she  could  not  love  and  honour  him— as  at  God's 
holy  altar  she  had  falsely  sworn  to  do — she  could  at  least  obey  him, 
and  strive  to  render  his  life  as  easy  and  comfortable  as  in  her  lay  : 
she  would  alter  her  cold  manner  towards  him ;  she  would  refrain 
from  the  covert  sarcasm  which  lurked  under  every  word  she  had 
hitherto  addressed  to  him,  and  which  so  thinly  veiled  the  contempt 
she  felt  for  him,  that  occasionally  even  his  dull  perception  penetrated 
it.  Oh,  how  as  the  clearer  light  in  which  she  now  regarded  her  past 
behaviour  fell  upon  each  separate  fault  and  error,  did  she  abhor 
herself !  with  what  bitter  tears  of  unavailing  contrition  did  she 
bewail  the  thoughts,  words,  and  actions,  which  could  never  be  re- 
called ! — unavailing  contrition !  yes,  unavailing  as  regards  the 
ii-revocable  past,  but  the  past  only,  for  there  was  One  who  witnessed 
her  true  penitence,  who  has  declared,  in  His  gi'acious  mercy,  that  "  a 
broken  and  contrite  heart  He  will  not  despise." 

How  long  she  thus  sat,  reviewing  and  grieving  over  her  past 
errors,  and  forming  good  resolutions  for  the  future,  and  imploring 
strength  from  above  to  enable  her  to  carry  them  into  effect,  Kate 
Crane  knew  not ;  but  she  was  startled  from  her  reverie  by  a  knock 
at  the  house-door ;  and  ere  she  had  time  to  banish  the  traces  of  her 
late  emotion,  a  light  footstep  bounded  up  the  stairs,  and  Horace 
D'Almayne  entered.  AssTiming  as  composed  a  manner  as  she  was 
able,  she  began, — 

"  You  are  an  early  visitor  to-day,  Mr.  D'Almayne ;  so  early,  indeed, 
that  Mr.  Crane  has  not  yet  returned  from  the  City." 

"  I  am  aware  of  that  fact  already,  my  dear  Mrs.  Crane,  having 
parted  from  my  good  friend  scarcely  an  hour  since,  when  I  left  him 
engaged  at  Lloyd's,  going  into  the  details  of  his  losses  on  the  un- 
fortunate East  Indiaman.  I  was  on  my  way  to  visit  a  friend  in 
Belgravia,  when  a  circumstance  occurred  which  induced  me  to  alter 
my  destination  and  take  the  chance  of  finding  you  disengaged ;  in 
which  case  I  ventured  to  hope  you  would  allow  me  a  few  minutes' 
conversation." 

Rather  surprised  at  his  mysterious  manner,  though  by  no  means 
so  much  so  as  if  she  had  been  unacquainted  with  his  habit  of  making 
a  mountain  of  any  molehill  he  might  happen  to  stumble  upon,  Kate 
motioned  to  him  to  be  seated,  resumed  her  own  chair,  and  wondered 
what  was  to  come  next. 

Probably  reading  as  much  in  her  expression,  D'Almayne 
began, — 

"  You  will  at  once  imderstand  why  I  have  thus  pi-esumed  upon  my 
privilege  as  an  old  friend,  when  I  tell  you  that  I  have  just  met,  and 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAjME  OF  IT  287 

had  a  long,  and  I  liope  not  entirely  profitless,  conversation  witli  your 
brother." 

"  With  Fred !  "  exclaimed  Kate,  colouring  with  mingled  surprise 
and  annoyance,  for  D'Almayne  was  about  the  last  person  to  whom 
she  desired  to  confide  her  family  troubles. 

D'Almayne  read  her  thoughts. 

"  Tour  brother."  he  said,  in  a  tone  expressive  of  wounded  feeling, 
"your  brother,  entertaining  no  unkind  suspicions  of  my  friendly 
interest,  imhesitatingly  confided  to  me  the  dilemma  in  which  his 
inexperience  has  placed  him,  and  which  his  want  of  knowledge  of  the 
world  has  magnified  into  something  much  more  alarming  than  it 
really  is.  So  I  obtained  his  permission  to  speak  to  you  on  the 
subject,  promising,  if  he  would  alloAv  me  to  do  so,  that  between  us 
we  should  very  soon  devise  means  to  relieve  him  from  his 
dilficulties." 

"  I'm  afraid,  then,  you  have  only  prepai'ed  a  fresh  disappointment 
for  the  poor  boy,"  returned  Kate.  "  Did  he  not  tell  you  that  he  had 
already  applied  to  me,  and  that  I  was  so  unfortimate  as  to  be  unable 
to  render  him  any  effectual  assistance  ?  " 

"  Surely  a  word  from  you  to  Mr.  Crane  would  remove  all  difficulty  ? 
Believe  me,  you  are  the  only  person  who  could  for  a  moment  doubt 
the  effect  of  such  an  appeal;  "and,  as  he  spoke,  D' Alma  jTie  fixed 
his  dark,  piercing  eyes  upon  her,  as  though  he  would  read  her  very 
soul. 

For  a  moment  Kate  looked  down  in  confusion  and  annoyance ; 
then  her  spirit  rose,  and  calmly  returning  his  glance,  she  replied, — 

"  My  brother,  no  doubt,  wished  to  spare  me  pain,  by  concealing 
from  you  that  I  have  ah-eady  applied  to  Mr.  Ci-ane ;  but  that, 
irritated  against  poor  Fred,  and  vexed  by  the  loss  of  this  ship,  my 
husband  refused  my  request." 

Smarting  under  Mr.  Crane's  unkindness,  anxious  and  unhappy 
about  her  brother,  provoked  at  Fred's  imprudence  in  admitting 
Horace  D'Almayne  to  his  confidence,  yet  clinging  to  the  hope  that 
her  companion's  tact  and  knowledge  of  life  might  devise  some  means 
of  extricating  her  brother  from  his  difficulties,  Kate  forgot  her  usual 
caution,  and  spoke  eagerly  and  hastily. 

D'Almayne  glanced  at  her  as,  with  flushed  cheeks  and  sparkling 
eyes,  she  owned  her  vain  appeal  to  her  husband's  liberality — never 
had  he  seen  her  look  so  lovely;  he  had  always  admitted  her 
statuesque  grace,  but  now  the  statue  had  become  animated,  and  her 
beauty  appeared  to  his  fascinated  vision  enthralling,  entrancing; 
while  the  absence  of  the  reserve  she  usually  maintained  towards 
him  misled  him  and  threw  him  off  his  guard.  Thus,  utterly 
sceptical  as  to  the  existence  of  female  vii-tue,  urged  by  the  impulses 
of  his  wai-m  southern  blood,  and  deceived  by  his  experiences  of 
foreign  society,  he  conceived  the  moment  for  which  he  had  so  long 
waited  and  schemed  had  arrived ;  gamester-like,  he  resolved  to  stake 
all  on  the  hazard   of   a  die;   and,  turning  towards  her,  while  his 


288  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

voice  trembled  with  an  emotion  which  for  once  was  not  fei^ed,  he 
exclaimed  passionately, — 

"  I  have  witnessed  long  and  silently,'  though  that  silence  has 
proceeded  from  an  effort  of  the  sti-ongest  self-control,  the  mean- 
spirited  and  selfish  conduct  of  the  cold-hearted,  witless  '  imb(5cile  '  to 
whom  it  is  youi'  misfortune  to  be  allied ;  I  have  seen  also,  with 
sentiments  of  the  warmest  and  most  vivid  admiration,  the  heroic 
endurance    with    which    you    have    borae    his    insults — the  gentle 
tenderness  with  which  you  have  striven  to  conceal  his  faults — the 
noble  generosity  with  which  you  have  impoverished  yourself  to 
atone  for  his  selfish  parsimony.    I  have  seen  all  this  with  feelings 
of    the  deepest    indignation    towards    him — of    the   warmest,    the 
most  devoted  admiration  towards  you.    I  have  perceived  the  low, 
sordid  spirit  of  the  one — the  beautiful  angelic  nature  of  the  other ; 
and  I  have  afflicted  myself  with  a  vain  remorse  when  the  reflec- 
tion that  I  was  a  weak,  blind  instrument  in  bringing  about  this 
incongi-uous,  this  most   abhon-ed  union,  forced  itself  upon  me — 
night  after  night  have  I  lain  sleepless,  indulging  in  these  sombre 
reflections.    At  length  a  thought,   an  idea,  an    inspiration,   as  it 
were,  flashed  across  my  brain,  like  lightning  through  the  darkness 
that  ovei-whebned  me.    The  laws  of  man  change,   it   said ;    they 
are  weak,  vain,  frivolous;  a  breath  can  make,  a  breath  can  alter 
them  ;  but  the  laws  of  Heaven  are  immiitable — written  on  human 
hearts,  whence  death  alone  can  efface  them.    In  the  stillness  of 
night  a  voice  said,  '  Look  within ;  read  your  own  heart ;  what  do 
you    find    written    there?    Is    it   not    that   a  strange,  sweet,  yet 
mysterious  sympathy  atti-acts  you  towards  her — links  you  to  her  ? 
Does  not  an  intuition  teach  you  her  evei-y  thought  and  wish  ?    When 
she  smiles,  does  not  an  extatic  joy  pervade  your  frame  ?    "When  she 
suffers,  do  you  not  suffer  also  ?  '    I  recognized  the  truth,  delightful 
yet  exquisitely  painful ;  but  I  put  it  away  from  me.     I  said.  '  Our 
paths  in  life  diverge — the  joy  of  such  soul-communion  is  not  for  me 
— I  am  alone  in  life  ! '    But  I  watched  you ;  I  saw  yovu*  unhappiness 
increase;  you  required  a  friend — again  the  voice  addressed  me;  it 
said, '  Be  that  friend; '  and  I  came,  and  did  the  little  I  was  able  to 
aid  you.    I  was  of  use  to  you,  and  for  the  time  I  was  happy.    Once 
more,  this  day,  when  your  brother  confided  in  me,  the  voice  spoke, 
'  Go,  Horace,'  it  exclaimed,  '  she  requires  you.'    It  had  not  deceived 
me;  I  found  you  pale,  dejected,  traces  of  tears  on  your  silken  lashes, 
sorrow  marked  in  every  line  of  your  speaking  countenance — in  eveiy 
pose  of  youi-  graceful  figure;   and  with  flashing  eyes  and  burning 
cheeks  you  tell  me  of  your  wrongs.    Again,  at  this  moment,  the 
voice  addresses  me :'  It  is  in  vain  to  strive,'  it  cries,  '  you  cannot 
silence  the  titterances  of  the  heart ;  they  may  be  repressed  for  a  time, 
but  they  will  make  themselves  heard.    Listen  to  their  dictates  now. 
She  who  is  part  of  your  soul  is  unhappy  :  she  seeks  affection,  and  is 
repelled  with  insensate  coldness ;   she  requii'es  a  mind  capable  of 
appreciating  and  reciprocating  her  own,  and  is  met  by  feeble  in- 


f\ 


for 


^ 


11, 


fl 


290  HARRY  COVE RD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

one  you  reject.  Tell  him  of  the  scroll  wrapped  round  the  rose-stalk, 
asking  a  private  intei'view,  which  you  instantly  gi-anted;  tell  him  of 
the  ostensible  visits  to  the  portrait  painter,  undertaken  to  conceal 
the  secret  expedition  to  Mrs.  Leonard ;  tell  him  that  this  expedition 
was  made  in  a  carriage  hired  by  me  to  convey  you  to  meet  me  by 
appointment  at  a  hoiise  in  an  obscure  quarter  of  London ;  and  ask 
him,  as  a  man  of  the  world,  whether  he  imagines  you  went  there 
simply  out  of  pure  benevolence,  and  whether  that  benevolence  to  the 
wife  of  a  man  whom  he  supposes  to  have  defrauded  him  meets  with 
his  approval ;  or  rather,  I  will  ask  him  all  this  when  he  applies  to 
me  for  an  explanation  of  my  conduct."  He  paused,  then  perceiving 
from  Kate's  look  of  emban-assment  and  annoyance  that  she  recog- 
nized and  was  disconcerted  by  the  force  of  his  remarks,  he  continued  : 
"  You  now  see  the  absurdity,  as  well  as  the  danger,  of  threatening 
me.  Were  Mr.  Crane  to  break  with  me  toonorrow,  it  would  only  l^e 
the  loss  of  a  dull  acquaintance — " 

"  Indeed ! "  interrupted  Kate,  with  quiet  but  cutting  ii'ony ;  "  I 
should  rather  have  compared  it  to  the  fact  of  yoiu-  banker  failing." 

D'Almayne's  cheeks  gi-ew  pale,  and  his  lips  quivered  with  suppressed 
anger,  but  he  continued  as  if  she  had  not  spoken : — 

"  His  vengeance  does  not  gi-eatly  alarm  me.  A  man  who  can  snuff 
a  candle  with  a  bullet  at  twelve  paces  need  not  fear  an  old  gentle- 
man!"— (he  sneered  as  he  pronounced  the  word) — "who  pi-obably 
never  saw  a  pistol  levelled  in  his  life,  and  woiild  not  easily  be  brought 
to  face  one."  Finding  that  Kate  made  no  reply,  he  resumed  in  a 
more  conciliatoi-y  tone  :  "  I  think  your  quick  intelligence  has  by  this 
time  sho-\\Ti  you  the  folly  of  quaiTcIling  with  me  ;  let  there  be  truce 
between  us.  I  will  ovna.  that,  carried  away  by  my  feelings,  I  used 
language  in  which  perhaps  I  was  scarcely  wan-anted  ;  but  you  must 
remember  that  the  blood  of  sunny  Fi-ance  sparkles  through  my  veins 
— that  one  of  my  parents  spi-ang  from  a  race,  who  (unlike  you  cold 
and  cautious  islanders),  when  they  feel  strongly,  speak  with  warmth 
and  ardoiu* ;  and  now  say,  is  it  to  be  peace  or  war  between  us  ?  " 

"I  perceive  that  by  my  own  imprudence,  springing  not  so  much 
from  a  misconception  of  your  titie  character  as  from  a  desire  not  to 
act  from  the  dictates  of  what  I  strove  to  convince  myself  was  an 
unfounded  prejudice  against  you,  I  have  so  far  placed  myself  in 
your  power  that  I  cannot  in  a  moment  judge  whether  I  shall  be 
doing  right  or  wrong  by  infonning  my  husband  of  your  conduct 
towards  me ;  but  of  two  things  be  sure,  first,  that  whatever  I  decide 
to  be  right,  I  will  do  ;  secondly,  that  neither  your  threats  nor  your 
sophistries  will  turn  me  from  my  pui-pose ;  for  the  rest,  after  what 
has  occurred  to-day,  there  can  be  no  farther — friendship  I  will  not 
call  it,  for  it  never  was  so — but  alliance  between  us.  I  now  know 
you,  sir !  and  that  is  enough." 

Again  the  evil  look  flashed  across  D'Almayne's  handsome  features, 
but  so  transient  was  it  that  even  Kate  failed  to  perceive  it. 
DAlmayue's  quick  wit  showed  him  that  he  had  already  gained  an 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  291 

advantage,  which,  if  he  could  follow  it  x\p,  would  <?o  far  to  retrieve 
the  false,  or  as  he  considered  it  premature,  step  he  had  taken.  If 
he  could  induce  Kate  to  conceal  the  declaration  he  had  made  her, 
tlie  vei*y  fact  of  her  having  done  so  would  place  her  still  more  in  his 
power,  his  schemes  in  regard  to  Mr.  Crane  might  yet  be  prosecuted  ; 
and  so  confident  was  he  in  his  own  resources,  that  he  even  believed 
he  might  gain  from  Kate's  fears  that  which  he  began  to  doubt 
whether  he  should  obtain  from  her  affection.  So  assuming  the 
manner  of  a  good  man  suffering  injustice  meekly,  he  rose  to  depart, 
saying.— 

"Tou  are  now  angry,  and  unable  to  regard  the  matter  in  its  true 
light.  You  have  confessed  you  are  prejudiced  against  me,  but  I 
know  you  well  enough  to  feel  sure  of  justice  at  your  hands;  nor 
shall  I  allow  this  painful  misunderstanding  between  us  to  cause  any 
relaxation,  on  my  part,  of  such  efforts  as  I  may  be  able  to  make 
towards  fi'eeing  your  brother  from  his  embarrassments — do  not 
inten-upt  me,"  he  continued,  seeing  Kate  was  about  indignantly  to 
refuse  his  aid,  "  I  know  what  you  would  say — how,  still  mistrusting 
me  and  misinterpreting  my  motives,  you  would  reject  my  assistance 
— and  I  would  gladly  save  myself  the  pain  of  hearing  from  your  lips 
bitter  words,  which  at  some  future  time  you  would  repent  havdng 
uttered.  I  will  now  leave  you,  nor  shall  I  again  intrude  upon  you 
until  I  have  won,  at  least,  yoiir  forgiveness." 

D'Almayne  was  an  excellent  actor,  and  as  he  pronounced  the  con- 
cluding words  of  the  last  sentence,  his  voice  trembled  with  so  good 
an  imitation  of  the  pathos  of  real  emotion,  that  Kate  actually 
glanced  towards  him  to  ascertain  whether  the  expression  of  his  face 
confiraied  the  idea.  Unwilling,  however,  to  weaken  the  effect  he 
trusted  his  words  had  pi'oduced,  he  turned  and  quitted  the  room 
without  having  afforded  her  the  opportunity  she  sought  for. 

Mr.  Crane  did  not  return  home  that  day,  being  summoned  by  tele- 
gi-aph  to  Liverpool, — a  merchant  there,  who  was  concerned  with  him 
in  the  speculation  for  which  they  had  chartered  the  "  Bundelcundah," 
East  Indiaman,  having,  on  hearing  of  its  loss,  blown  out  his  brains. 
Thus  Kate  had  no  opportunity  of  revealing  to  her  husband 
D'Almajme's  misdeeds.  As  soon  as  she  found  Mr.  Crane  had  left 
town,  she  sent  to  her  brother,  intending  to  warn  him  against  accept- 
ing D'Almayne's  offers  of  assistance,  but  her  messenger  brought 
back  her  missive,  with  the  announcement  that  Mr.  Marsden  had 
quitted  his  lodgings.  Early  the  next  morning  she  received  the 
following  note : — 

"Dear  Kate, — You  need  be  under  no  further  uneasiness  on  my 
account.  My  difficulties  are  at  an  end,  and  a  career  far  better  suited 
to  me  than  the  drudgery  of  a  counting-house  is  afforded  me.  I  am 
not  at  liberty  to  inform  you  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  this  unhoped- 
for assistance  ;  but  I  have  indeed  met  with  a  true  friend  in  my  dis- 
tress, towards  whom  I,  and  all  who  care  for  my  welfare,  must  ever 


292  HARRY  CO  VERB  ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

feel  the  deepest  gratitude.  I  am  bound  by  an  express  stipnlation  not 
to  reveal  the  name  of  the  benefactor  who  has  so  generously  come 
forward  to  assist  me.  even  to  you  ;  but,  believe  me,  I  am  not  deceived 
this  time.  I  long  to  tell  you  all.  but  my  lips  are  sealed.  I  will  write 
to  my  mother  when  I  can  explain  more  fully  my  future  prospects. 
Farewell,  dear  Kate,  my  faith  in  human  nature  is  restored ;  this  is 
not  one  of  the  least  obligations  I  owe  to  my  noble-hearted  friend. 

"  Ever  yours, 

"Fred.  Marsden." 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

ALICE   PERCEIVES  THE   ERROR   OF   HER  WATS. 

"  My  dear  Alice,  what  has  changed  you  so  completely  ?  Ton  have 
lost  your  spirits,  and  appear  to  take  a  dark,  morbid  view  of  life. 
You  find  a  thousand  faults  with  things  and  people  you  used  to  be 
perfectly  satisfied  with ;  and  you  look  thin  and  ill !  Are  you  un- 
well ?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Hazlehurst  of  her  daughter,  after  Alice  had 
been  staying  some  days  at  the  Grange.  They  were  sitting  together 
in  Mrs.  Hazlehiirst's  morning  room,  which  commanded  an  extensive 
view  across  the  park.  Alice's  eyes  had  been  for  some  minutes  fixed 
upon  one  particular  spot,  and  as  she  gazed  they  filled  with  tears — it 
■was  the  stile  leading  to  the  shady  walk  wherein  Hairy  had  first  told 
his  love,  and  the  sight  of  it  called  up  a  host  of  tender  recollections. 
How  different  was  the  bright,  sunny,  trusting  affection  which  she 
then  felt  for  him  from  her  present  perturbed  state  of  mind!— in 
which  jealousy  of  Arabella  Crofton  and  estrangement  from  her  hus- 
band (springing  originally  from  his  neglect  and  injustice,  and  kept 
alive  by  the  untoward  events  of  their  London  season)  contended  with 
a  love,  the  strength  of  which  was  proved  by  the  wretchedness  all 
these  doubts  and  misunderstandings  caused  her.  Scarcely  hearing 
her  mother's  question,  she  replied  mechanically,  "  No,  that  she  was 
not  ill,"  and  relapsed  into  her  train  of  gloomy  musing.  Mrs.  Hazle- 
hurst regarded  her  in  anxious  silence  for  a  few  moments,  then 
observed  abruptly, — 

"  Alice,  you  never  speak  of  your  husband  now ;  yet,  when  you  were 
first  married,  your  letters  were  full  of  his  praises,  and  you  could 
neither  talk  nor  wi-ite  of  anything  but  Harry's  perfections.  How  is 
this  ?  " 

"  Oh !  one  cannot  be  always  a  baby,"  was  the  reply.    "  While  I 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  293 

■was  a  new  plaything,  Mr.  Coverdale  spoiled  me,  and  made  mncli  of 
me ;  and  I  was  child  enough  to  be  delighted  with  his  attentions — to 
fancy  they  would  always  continue  the  same,  and  that  life  would 
prove  a  path  of  roses,  so  I  rhapsodized  about  it  accordingly.  I  have 
now  found  out  my  mistake,  and  indulge  in  raptures  no  longer — that 
is  all ! "  She  strove  to  speak  lightly  and  carelessly,  but  her  tearful 
eyes  and  quivering  lips  belied  the  sense  of  her  words.  Her  mother 
saw  it,  and  could  abstain  no  longer. 

"  Alice,  my  child,  you  are  unhappy,"  she  said ;  "  it  is  useless  to 
attempt  to  conceal  it.  Come,  tell  me  what  it  is.  Tou  know  of  old 
that  I  am  to  be  trusted,  and  who  so  fit  as  your  mother  to  confide  in  ? 
— who  so  well  able  to  sympathize  with — and  perhaps  to  counsel 
you  ?  "  As  she  spoke,  she  passed  her  arm  caressingly  round  Alice's 
slender  waist,  and  drew  her  towards  her.  For  a  minute  or  so  Alice 
submitted  passively  to  her  embi'ace,  then,  with  an  hysterical  sob,  she 
flung  her  arms  round  her  and  burst  into  a  passion  of  tears.  Mrs. 
Hazlehurst  allowed  her  to  weep  in  silence,  until  the  violence  of  her 
grief  had  in  some  measure  subsided,  then,  by  degrees,  drew  from  her 
an  account,  at  first  broken  and  disjointed,  but  becoming  fuller  and 
more  coherent  as  she  proceeded,  of  all  her  woes,  real  and  imaginaiy, 
with  which  the  reader  is  already  acquainted. 

"  And  now,  mamma  dearest,  how  can  I  ever  again  be  happy, 
knowing  as  I  do  that  Hari-y  is  still  attached  to  that  dreadful  woman, 
and  that  he  regrets  his  mairiage  with  me  more,  because  it  places  a 
bar  between  them,  than  because  I  have  disappointed  him  by  not 
proving  the  spiritless,  tender,  and  affectionate  doll  he  fancied  me 
when  I  first  mai-ried  ?  I — I  almost  wish  I  was,  for  then  perhaps  I 
could  make  him  happy,  and  I'm  sure  I  don't  now ! "  She  paused, 
then  resting  her  head  against  her  mother's  shoulder,  added,"  Mamma 
— you  will  tell  me  honestly — do  you  think  I  have  behaved  very  ill  ?  " 

"  I  certainly  cannot  exonerate  you  from  blame,  my  poor  child ; 
there  have  been,  as  it  seems  to  me,  serious  faults  on  both  sides.  Mr. 
Coverdale's  appear  to  me  to  have  proceeded  more  from  thoughtless- 
ness than  from  intention;  while  yours,  I  am  both  sori-y  and  sur- 
prised to  find,  seem  chiefly  to  have  arisen  from  wannth  of  temper." 

"Yes,  I  see  it  now ;  and  yet  you  know,  mamma,  I  am  not  really  ill- 
tempered — at  least,  I  never  used  to  be ;  but  you  know  I  loved,  or," 
she  added  with  a  sigh,  "  I  may  say  I  love  Han-y  so  very  dearly,  that 
the  slightest  neglect  or  unkindness  on  his  pai*t  appears  such  a  cruel 
return  for  my  affection  that  I  cannot  bear  it  quietly  ;  if  I  were  not 
to  lose  my  temper  and  get  angi-y  about  it,  I  should  pine  away  and  die 
— I  know  I  should  !  " 

"  Did  you  ever  tell  him  this  ?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Hazlehurst. 

Alice  shook  her  head.  "  One  does  not  tell  such  things,"  she  said ; 
"  if  Han-y  cared  for  my  affection  he  would  soon  perceive  how  entirely 
I  love  him ;  if,  as  I  fear,  he  is  indifferent  to  it,  all  the  telling  in  the 
world  would  make  no  difference ;  besides,  I  have  heard  from  his  owh 
lips  that  he  loves  another." 


294  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  I  do  not  make  o\it  that  alfaii'  at  all,"  observed  Mrs.  Hazlelinrst 
reflectively ;  "  it  is  so  completely  unlike  Mr.  Coverdale's  straight- 
forward, honest  character,  to  marry  one  woman  when  he  cared  for 
another,  that  I  cannot  but  think  there  must  be  some  mistake  about 
it." 

"  How  can  there  be  any  mistake,  dear  mamma  P "  was  the 
rejoinder.  "  I  have  long  felt  certain  that  Miss  Crofton  was  attached 
to  Harry  ;  and  I  myself  heard  him  say  to  her  that  he  was  most  un- 
fortunate, because  love  which  he  could  not  retni-n  was  lavished  upon 
him  (meaning  mine),  while  he  had  alienated  by  his  own  act  (his 
man-iage,  of  course)  the  only  affection  he  cared  to  possess  (that  is 
Arabella  Crofton's) :  I  do  not  know  what  could  be  clearer." 

"  Did  you  not  say  that  Mr.  Coverdale  appeared  aware  that  he  had 
neglected  you  for  his  sporting,  and  blamed  himself  for  so  doing  ?  " 

*'  Yes ;  I  think  he  knows  it,  and  is  sorry  for  it — and — and  he  does 
not  leave  me  nearly  so  much  alone  as  he  used ;  only  I  fancied— that 
is,  I  was  afraid  he  did  so  from  a  sense  of  dnty,  and  not  because  it 
was  a  pleasure  to  him  to  stay  with  me.  Harry  has  a  very  strict  sense 
of  duty." 

"  You  say  he  seems  to  doubt  your  affection,"  continued  Mrs.  Hazle- 
hurst,  "  and  you  own  you  conceal  it  from  him,  treating  him  to  bursts 
of  pettislmess  and  ill-humour,  of  which  you  refuse  to  explain  the 
cause.  You  also  tell  me  that  this  Miss  Crofton  appears  to  have  been 
attached  to  Mr.  Coverdale ;  now,  from  what  you  have  told  me  of  the 
way  in  which  you  behaved  at  Lady  Trottemout's  pai'ty — which  I  con- 
fess I  think  was  both  foolish  and  wrong — I  can  easily  conceive  your 
husband  to  have  been  greatly  annoyed  with  you  ;  and  it  seems  to  mt3 
that  nothing  would  be  more  natural  than  for  him  to  have  told,  or  in 
some  way  to  have  allowed  Miss  Crofton  to  perceive  his  annoyance  ; 
in  which  case,  as  I  fear  she  must  be  a  designing,  unprincipled 
woman,  she  might  avail  herself  of  the  opportunity  to  contrast  her 
own  affection  with  your  disobedience  and  petulance.  Thus  your 
husband's  speech,  on  which  you  have  built  up  all  this  alaraiing 
fabric  of  futiu-e  unhappiness,  may  be  interpreted  much  more  satis- 
factorily :  as,  for  instance,  the  affection  lavished  on  him,  which  he 
could  not  retiu-n,  might  be  Miss  Crofton's,  and  the  love  he  coveted, 
yours,  which  he  by  his  own  neglect  had  alienated.  Do  you  per- 
ceive ?  " 

*'  Oh  yes,  mamma  ! "  exclaimed  Alice  eagerly,  her  face  lighting  up 
with  the  ray  of  hope  thus  given  her :  "  I  see  it  really  might  mean 
that.    Oh,  if  I  dare  but  believe  it  was  so ! " 

She  paused  to  reflect,  and  as  the  recollection  of  Han-y's  frank, 
earnest  face,  and  simple,  truthfiil  manner  came  across  her,  when  in 
their  last  discussion  he  had  told  her  there  was  not,  and  never  had 
been,  anything  between  himself  and  Miss  Crofton  which  need  give 
her  uneasiness,  she,  for  the  first  time  since  Lady  Tattersall  Trot- 
temout's soir(5e,  allowed  herself  to  hope  that  she  had  mistaken  the 
meaning  of  the  words  she  had  overheard;  that  her  husband  still 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  295 

loved  her ;  that  slie  had  only  to  show  him  how  these  troubles  and 
estrangements  had  served  but  to  prove  to  her  the  depth  and  reality 
of  their  mutual  affection ;  and  that,  warned  by  past  experience  to 
bear  and  forbear,  a  life  of  happiness  still  awaited  them. 

"  No  one  could  be  more  averse  than  I  am  to  raise  false  hopes," 
resumed  Mrs.  Hazlehurst ;  "  but  I  really  believe,  from  my  previous 
knowledge  of  Mr.  Coverdale's  character,  as  well  as  from  aU  you  have 
told  me  to-day,  that  my  interpretation  of  the  enigmatical  speech  is 
the  true  one." 

"  If  it  is,  dearest  mamma,  I  shall  owe  the  whole  happiness  of  my 
life  to  you,"  exclaimed  Alice  enthusiastically  ;  "  already  I  feel  as  if 
a  load  which  had  been  crushing::  me  to  the  earth  was  taken  off  my 
shoulders :  the  thou<?ht  that  Hariy  prefen-ed  that  woman  to  me 
haunted  me  continually,  and  embittered  my  existence.  Even  now," 
she  continued,  soiTOwfully.  *'  as  long  as  the  fact  of  Han-y's  refusal  to 
tell  me  what  has  passed  between  them  remains  unaccounted  for,  I 
cannot  feel  quite  satisfied." 

''  Do  you  know,  Alice,  I  think  you  are  evincing  extreme  naiTOW- 
mindedness  in  these  unworthy  suspicions  :  if  you  do  not  take  yoiu'- 
self  sei-iously  to  task,  and  strive  to  overcome  this  very  grave  fault 
in  your  character,  I  am  afraid  the  evil  you  so  much  dread — the  loss 
of  your  husband's  affection,  may  come  upon  you  after  all ;  but  it  will 
be  solely  to  your  own  ungenerous  mistrust  that  you  will  owe  it.  I  do 
not  wish  to  distress  you,"  she  continued,  as  Alice  burst  into  tears  at 
this,  the  most  severe  rebuke  she  had  ever  received  from  her  mother's 
lips ;  "  but  if  I  did  not  tell  you  what  I  believe  to  be  the  tmth,  I 
should  fail  in  my  duty  to  you." 

Alice  wept  for  some  moments  in  silence,  then  di-ying  her  tears, 
she  said  in  a  submissive,  child-like  manner,  "  I  have  done  very,  very 
wrong ;  advise  me,  mamma,  and  I  will  try  and  act  according  to  your 
wishes." 

Mrs.  Hazlehurst  drew  Alice  towards  her,  and  kissing  her  pale 
cheek  affectionately,  replied, — 

"  My  advice  is  this,  love ;  when  you  return  home,  do  not  enter 
upon  any  of  these  matters  which  have  been  subjects  of  dissension 
between  you  and  Mr.  Coverdale ;  and  should  he  do  so,  take  care  to 
reply  gently  and  without  in-itation,  remembering  that  '  a  meek  and 
quiet  spii-it  is  a  woman's  chiefest  ornament ' ;  for  the  rest,  try  and 
make  yourself  as  pleasant  and  agi-eeable  as  you  can  to  him.  Let 
him  perceive  your  affection  in  the  thousand  constantly-reciu-ring 
trifles  of  which  a  loving  woman  can  avail  herself  for  such  a  purpose, 
but  be  careful  not  to  bore  him  with  it  at  unsuitable  times  ;  above  all, 
do  not  be  'exigeante'  and  expect  or  desire  him  to  give  up  his 
sporting  tastes,  or  his  love  of  farming,  or  even  the  society  of  his 
gentlemen  friends  for  yom-  sake  :  yovi  could  not  do  it  if  you  would, 
and  you  would  only  deteriorate  his  frank,  manly  character,  if  you 
were  to  succeed.  At  the  same  time  you  may,  by  your  influence,  lead 
him  to  cultivate  some  of  his  more  refined  pursuits,  into  which  you 


29G  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

can  enter  with  him.  He  sings  charmingly  ;  get  him  to  keep  up  his 
miisic,  procure  the  cleverest  and  best-written  books,  and  persuade 
him  to  read  and  discuss  them  with  you.  His  clear  intellect  and 
strong  good  sense  will  be  of  the  greatest  use  in  expanding  and 
forming  your  mind,  and  supplying  the  deficiencies  which  my  ill- 
health  has  occasioned  in  your  education.  I  see  I  need  not  go  farther 
into  detail — you  understand  me  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  mamma !  and  if  I  were  but  able  to  realize  the  picture 
you  have  dra-wn  of  our  domestic  life,  how  happy  we  might  yet  be ! 
but  I  will  try  my  very  best,  only  I  feel  so  weak,  and  sometimes  so 
wicked  ;  if  I  were  but  as  wise  and  good  as  you — but  I  will  try.  Ah  ! 
if  I  had  done  so  at  first,  I  should  have  had  so  much  easier  a  task — 
however,  they  say  it  is  never  too  late  to  mend."  She  paused,  sighed 
deeply,  then  continued :  "  Emily  comes  home  to-morrow ;  I  will 
write  to  Hari-y  to  send  for  me  the  next  day,  and  then — and  then — 
Mamma,  do  you  think  I  shall  succeed  ?  " 

At  the  very  moment  Alice  was  thus  repenting  the  past,  and 
forming  good  resolutions  for  the  future,  Han-y,  with  gloomy  brow 
and  clenched  teeth,  was  sti-iding  impatiently  up  and  down  his 
library,  holding  in  his  hand  a  sealed  letter — it  was  addressed  to  his 
wife,  and  the  wi-iting  was  Lord  Alfred  Courtland's.  "  So,"  he 
muttered,  "  so,  not  content  with  amusing  (that's  the  phi-ase  nowa- 
days) himself  during  his  London  season  by  dangling  after  my  wife, 
he  must  try  to  keep  up  the  thing  now  she  is  away — foolish  yoimg 
idiot ! — but  I  feel  sure  that  scoimdrel  D'Almayne  is  at  the  bottom  of 
it,  setting  him  on  for  some  purpose  of  his  own.  Well,  I've  borae  it 
patiently — more  patiently  than  one  man  in  fifty  would  have  done — 
nobody  can  say  I've  been  rash  or  hasty  in  this  matter ;  but  it's  time 
to  act,  and  when  1  do  begin,  I'll  astonish  them.  I'll  take  Alfred 
Courtland  off  to  his  father,  and  tell  him  the  boy's  not  fit  to  be  trusted 
alone.  If  he  won't  go,  I'll  horsewhip  him :  and  as  to  D'Almayne,  by 
the  Heaven  above  me,  I'll  shoot  him  like  a  dog !  such  a  scoundrel  is 
not  fit  to  live !  it  would  be  a  benefit  to  society  to  rid  it  of  such  a 
fellow.  But  I  may  be  wi'ong ;  I  said  I  would  do  nothing  hastily  in 
this  business,  and  I'll  be  tiiie  to  my  word.  I'll  wait  till  Alice  comes 
home,  give  her  the  letter  myself,  and  ask  her  to  show  it  to  me.  If 
she  refuses,  or  if  it  contains  such  matter  as  I  expect,  I  shall  then 
know  how  to  act," 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  297 


CHAPTER  L. 

THE   LETTER. 

When  thing's  happen  not  to  go  smoothly  in  this  mortal  life  (that  is, 
about  nine  times  out  of  evei-y  ten)  people  are  apt  to  rail  against 
destiny,  deploi-e  their  evil  fortune,  or,  if  they  happen  to  be  very  good 
indeed,  reckon  up  the  number  of  crosses  vouchsafed  them  with  self- 
complacent  resignation ;  in  fact,  they  each,  after  their  own  fashion, 
give  cuiTcncy  to  the  sentiment  expressed  by  our  neighbours  across 
the  water  in  the  proverb,  "  L'homme  propose,  Dieu  dispose."  Now, 
although  we  acknowledge  that  this  proverb  embodies  a  gi-eat  truth, 
yet,  looking  at  the  present  state  of  things  more  closely,  we  conceive 
it  to  be  by  no  means  the  whole  tnith — for  this  reason  :— a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  evils  of  life  ai-e  no  results  of  blind  chance,  or,  more 
correctly,  no  chastisements  proceeding  direct  from  the  hand  of 
Providence,  but  the  natural,  almost  the  necessai-y,  consequences  of 
our  o\vn  actions.  Action  might  be  generally  defined  as  the  working 
— according  to  certain  fixed  rules — of  cause  and  effect ;  if  we  would 
but  bear  this  in  mind,  and  reflect  that  every  action  produces  some 
result  good  or  evil,  we  might  not  indeed  (so  wrong-headed  is  human 
nature)  act  more  wisely,  but  we  should  at  all  events  feel  less  surprise 
when  the  inevitable  results  followed  ;  and  so,  knowing  that  we  had 
only  ourselves  to  thank  for  our  punishment,  gain  experience  which 
might  make  some  few  fools  of  us  wiser  for  the  future. 

These  remarks  were  called  forth  by,  and  therefore  might  have 
occurred  to,  Alice  Coverdale,  had  she  been  of  what  it  is  the  fashion 
to  term  an  "  introspective  habit  " — i.e.  had  she  been  accustomed  to 
turn  her  mind  inside  out  before  its  own  eye.  Not,  however,  being 
given  to  this  uncomfortable  practice,  she  failed  to  discern  the 
troubles  in  store  for  her,  and  returned  home  fondly  deeming  that 
having  at  length  perceived  the  error  of  her  ways,  she  need  only 
confess,  and  receive  her  husband's  absolution,  to  set  every  wrong 
right  again.  Han-y  did  not  come  to  fetch  her,  it  being  a  day  on 
which  there  was  a  magistrates'  meeting  ;  but  he  was  standing  at  the 
hall  door  waiting  to  receive  her,  which  he  did  warmly,  and  as  if  he 
was  very  glad  to  have  her  back  again,  though  a  gloom  hung  on  his 
brow  which,  when  the  first  confusion  of  her  arrival  was  over,  Alice 
could  not  fail  to  perceive  ;  but  conscious  to  a  painful  degree  of  her 
own  faults  and  shortcomings,  she  did  not  venture  to  remark  upon  it 
When  they  reached  the  drawing-room,  Han-y  threw  back  her  veil, 
and  regarded  her  with  a  long,  earnest  gaze,  which  brought  the 
warm  blood  into  her  cheeks  as  in  the  days  of  her  girlhood. 


298  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  Tou  are  looking  better,  brighter,  and  more  like  your  former  self 
than  I  have  seen  you  for  some  time,"  he  said.  He  paused,  then 
resumed  sadly  : — "  Ah,  Alice,  I'm  afraid  you  were  happier  in  your 
old  home  than  you  will  ever  be  in  your  new  one  !  " 

"  Do  not  say  so — do  not  think  so,  dear  Harry  !  "  was  the  eager 
reply.  "I  may  have  been  silly,  and — and  wicked  enough  to  have 
been  unhapi)y,  and  to  have  vexed  you  and  rendered  you  so,  too ; 
but  I  have  been  taking  myself  seriously  to  task  since  I  have  been 
away,  and  have  come  home  full  of  good  resolutions,  and  intending 
to  strive  hard  to  keep  them ;  and  if  you  would  be  so  very  good  as 
to  forgive  me  the  past  and  help  me  in  the  future,  I  think  perhaps  I 
may  succeed." 

Touched  by  her  words  and  by  the  evident  feeling  with  which  they 
were  spoken,  Harry  drew  her  to  him,  and  kissed  her  tenderly. 

"  We  may  both  have  been  in  some  measure  to  blame,"  he  said, 
"  but  I  by  far  the  most  so,  for  neglecting  the  sacred  tiiist  I  took 
upon  me  when  I  possessed  myself  of  your  affection ;  but  I  was  a 
heedless  boy  then — expei-ience  has  made  something  rather  more 
like  a  reasonable  being  of  me  by  this  time,  I  hope ;  at  all  events,  I 
now  know  how  to  appreciate  and  gnard  the  treasure  I  possess." 
But  even  as  he  uttered  these  words  his  brow  grew  clouded,  for  he 
thought  of  Lord  Alfred  Courtland's  letter,  lying  at  that  moment  in 
his  pocket.  Should  he  give  it  to  her  at  once,  as  she  stood  by  him 
blushing  and  smiling,  and  looking  up  at  him  with  all  the  light  of 
her  foraier  love  beaming  in  her  soft  bine  eyes  ?  What  if  she  refused 
to  show  it  him  ? — if  its  contents  should  destroy  the  harmony  so 
happily  re-established  between  them  ?  Still  it  must  be  done  sooner 
or  later,  and  Han-y  was  not  one  to  put  off  the  evil  day.  "With  that 
letter  on  his  mind  he  could  not  meet  Alice's  affection  warmly  and 
frankly  as  it  deserved,  and  as  she  would  expect  him  to  do ;  besides, 
the  contents  might  be  of  a  nature  to  relieve,  rather  than  to  increase 
his  anxiety,  in  which  case  he  was  needlessly  prolonging  his  own 
uneasiness.  So  turaing  towards  her,  he  said  in  a  tone  of  voice 
which  he  vainly  endeavoui-ed  to  render  easy  and  unconstrained, 
"Alice,  love,  here  is  a  letter  for  you,  which  I  chose  to  give  you 
myself,  and  which,  when  you  have  read  it,  I  hope  and  believe  you 
will  allow  me  to  see  also."  As  he  spoke  he  led  her  to  the  sofa,  then 
handing  her  Lord  Alfred's  unopened  letter,  waited  in  a  state  of 
anxiety  which  he  vainly  attempted  to  conceal,  imtil  she  should  have 
perused  it.  Alice  coloured  slightly  when  she  perceived  by  the  hand- 
writing from  whom  the  epistle  proceeded;  but,  judging  from  her 
consciousness  that  nothing  really  wi-ong  had  passed  between  them 
that  certainly  she  should  be  able  to  show  it  to  Han-y,  and  so  eradi- 
cate any  seeds  of  jealousy  which  might  be  lurking  in  his  mind,  she 
hastily  broke  the  seal. 

The  letter  was  a  long  one,  for  Lord  Alfred,  being  really  very  son-y 
for  his  misconduct  on  the  night  of  the  ball,  and  very  anxious  to 
retrieve  Alice's  good  opinion,  waxed  eloquent  upon  his  theme,  and 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  299 

expended  as  much  fine  wi-iting  iipon  liis  exculpation  as  would  have 
formed  a  leader  in  the  "  Times."  After  two  sides  of  penitence,  he 
continued  : — 

"  In  fact,  my  excuse  amounts  to  this  :  that  I  was,  and  I  may  say 
am,  a  fool  in  the  hands  of  a  knave ;  and  a  very,  very  had  excuse  I 
feel  it  to  he.    But  really  D'Almayne  is  such  a  clever  rogue,  if  ro.gue 
he  be— knows  so  much  of  life— is  so  brilliant  and  amusing— dresses  so 
well — does  everything  with  such  perfect  tact  and  good  taste— is,  in 
shoi-t,  so  consistent  as  a  whole,  that  although  one  neither  respects  nor 
approves  of  him,  yet  it  is  impossible  (at  least  for  me)  to  resist  his 
influence;  time  after  time  have  I  resolved  to  break  with  him,  and 
time  after  time  have  I  allowed  him  again  to  do  what  he  pleased  with 
me.    I  can  truly  and  honestly  dechu-e  that  everything  that  I  have 
said  or  done  which  could  cause  you  a  moment's  annoyance  has  been 
prompted  by  him  ;  he  flattered  my  vanity  by  urging  me  to  get  up  a 
sentimental  flirtation  with  '  la  belle  Coverdale,'  as  he  impertinently 
styled  you ;  and,  but  for  your  good  sense  in  showing  me  you  had  no 
taste  for  such  folly,  I  know  not  what  absurdities  I  might  have 
committed.    Again,  he  told  me  that  ill-natured  story  of  Mr.  Cover- 
dale,  which  I  believe  he  embellished,  and  gave  a  much  more  serious 
colouring  to  than  the  truth  would  bear  out ;  and  finally  and  lastly, 
he  it  was  who  persuaded  me  to  take  you  to  the  door  of  the  boudoir 
to  witness  that  scene  between  Miss  Crofton  and  your  husband,  of 
which  I  feel  certain  we  do  not  know  the  tiiie  explanation  ;  for  I  am 
most  confident  my  good  friend  Coverdale  cares  for  you,  and  you  only, 
as  an  affectionate   husband  should   do.    Why  DAlmayne  did  all 
this,  except  that  I  fancy  he  has  some  spite  against  Coverdale,  I  do 
not  know  or  care.    Nor  do  I  think  I  am  wrong  in  thus  showing  the 
exquisite  Horace  up  in  his  true  colours  to  you,  as  evei"y  word  I  have 
stated  is  the  simple  ti-uth ;  and  were  he  to  tax  me  with  having  done 
so,  I  should  be  perfectly  ready  to  justify  my  conduct  and  abide  the 
consequences,  though  he  is  such  a  dead  shot,  and  fond  of  '  parading 
his  man'  at  daybreak.    Of  course  you  will  not  show  this  letter  to 
your  husband,  as,  although  I  do  not  think,  if  he  knew  the  whole 
truth,  he  would  be  vei-y  angiy  with  me,  such  would  not  be  the  case 
in  regard  to  DAlmayne,  and  might  lead  to  something  serious  between 
them.    But  if,  my  dear  Mrs.  Coverdale,  I  can  obtain  your  forgive- 
ness, and  (after  my  retiirn  from  Italy,  where  I  am  shortly  about  to 
join  my  family)  you  will,  in  consideration  of  my  penitence,  still  allow 
me  the  privilege  of  your  friendship,  I  shall  not  so  deeply  regi-et  the 
inexcusable  folly  of 

*'  Yours  vei-y  sincerely, 

"  Alfred  Courtland." 
*'  His  lordship  has  treated  you  to  a  voluminous  epistle,"  obseiwed 
Han-y ;  "  I  am,  I  own,  curious  to  learn  what  the  boy  can  have  found 
to  say  to  you ;  he  was  by  no  means  so  prolific  with  his  pen  in  the 
days  of  Greek  exercises." 

As  he  spoke  he  held  out  his  hand  for  the  letter;  but  Alice  drew 


300  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

back;  the  words  "of  course  you  will  not  show  this  letter  to  your 
husband" — "dead  shot"— "fond  of  paradinpr  his  man  before  day- 
break " — "  lead  to  something  serious,"  &.c.,  swam  before  her  eyes,  her 
brain  reeled,  all  the  blood  seemed  to  rush  to  her  heart,  and  for  a 
moment  slie  felt  on  the  verge  of  fainting.  By  an  effort  she  recovered 
herself  sufl&ciently  to  falter  out, — 

"  Dear  Harry,  do  not  ask  to  see  it — I  cannot  show  it  to  you — it  is  a 
private  letter,  meant  for  my  eye  only;  and— and — you  will  not  ask 
to  see  it !  "  She  spoke  in  the  humblest,  most  imploring  tone;  but 
the  shadow  on  Harry's  brow  grew  deeper. 

"  It  is  most  strange— incomprehensible,  in  fact— how  and  why  you 
misunderstand  me  in  this  way  !  "  he  said.  "  I  have  a  right  to  ask  to 
see  that  letter  ;  I  should  be  neglecting  a  plain  and  positive  duty  if  I 
failed  to  do  so — putting  aside  all  personal  feeling  in  the  matter — the 
duty  I  owe  to  you,  the  responsibility  I  took  upon  myself  when  I 
married  you,  requires  it.  I  have  suffered  too  much  already  from  my 
careless  neglect  of  these  sacred  obligations  to  fall  into  the  same  eiTor 
again  ! "  He  paused ;  then  taking  Alice's  hand  in  his  own,  he 
continued  with  a  mournful  tenderness: — "  You  are  but  a  young  girl 
yet,  my  poor  child ;  as  ignorant  of  the  ways  of  the  world  as  if  you 
were  a  child ;  I  have  deijrived  you  of  the  safeguard  of  a  father's 
authority,  of  a  mother's  watchful  tenderness,  and,  with  my  best 
endeavours,  it  is  but  most  imperfectly  I  can  make  up  for  these  defi- 
ciencies. You  may  trust  me  in  this  matter ;  in  trifles  I  know  I  am 
rash  and  headstrong,  but  in  a  case  like  this,  where  my  deepest, 
strongest  feelings  are  concerned,  you  need  not  fear  me;  your 
happiness  is  not  a  thing  to  trifle  with.  Understand  me  clearly;  I 
do  not  in  the  slightest  degree  suspect  you  of  anything  in  this  affair 
but  thoughtlessness ;  I  do  not  believe  anybody  or  anything  could 
depnve  me  of  yoiu*  affection  but  my  own  acts ;  and  if,  by  my  heed- 
less folly  in  neglecting  you  to  follow  my  selfish  amusements,  I  have 
not  already  alienated  your  love,  I  hope  and  believe  that  I  shall  give 
you  no  farther  cause  for  repenting  that  you  ever  enti-usted  me  with 
so  priceless  a  treasure."  A  warm  pressure  from  the  hand,  which  he 
still  retained,  assured  him  better  than  words  could  have  done  that 
his  wife's  heart  was  still  in  his  keeping,  and  he  continued  : — "  With 
every  confidence  in  you,  however,  it  is  not  right  that  I  should  allow 
this  foolish  boy  to  continue  his  intimacy  with  you,  after  the  tone  he 
and  his  libei-tine  friend,  that  scoundrel  D'Almayne,  have  chosen 
to  give  it.  I  have  heard  more  than  one  conversation  at  clubs  and 
elsewhere  in  regard  to  '  D'Almayne's  promising  pupil  and  la  belle 
Coverdale,'  as  the  puppies  had  the  insolence  to  call  you"  (Alice 
started  as  she  remembered  Lord  Alfred's  allusion  to  the  phrase  being 
D'Almayne's),  "  which  would  have  caused  your  cheeks  to  bum  with 
shame  and  anger,  and  which,  if  I  were  quite  the  rash,  headstrong 
character  people  would  make  me  out  to  be,  might  have  led  to 
unpleasant  consequences ; — men  have  been  shot  for  such  remarks 
before  now.    Thus,  it  is  quite  time  this  folly  should  be  brought  to  an 


jV 


n^ 


)' 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  301 

end.  I  hoped  it  would  die  a  natural  death  when  I  took  you  out  of 
town ;  but  as  Alfred  Courtland  has  chosen  to  wnte  to  you,  I  think  it 
my  duty,  as  I  before  said,  to  see  the  letter,  that  I  may  be  able  to  judge 
what  steps  it  may  be  necessary  to  take  to  bring  the  affair  to  a  close." 

"  Indeed,  Harry  dearest,  there  will  be  no  need  to  take  any  steps  at 
all ! "  exclaimed  Alice  eagerly.  "  Lord  Alfred  simply  writes  to 
apologize  for  something  he  did  which  annoyed  me  on  the  evening  of 
Lady  Tattersall  Trottemout's  pai-ty,  owing,  as  he  confesses,  to  his 
having  drunk  more  champagne  than  was  wise.  I  can  assure  you  the 
letter  evinces  nothing  but  good  feeling  on  his  part,  and  is  rather  to 
his  credit  than  otherwise." 

"  Then  in  the  name  of  common  sense,  why  not  show  it  to  me — write 
him  a  good-humoured,  friendly  answer— and  there  will  be  an  end  to 
the  matter  without  any  more  fuss  ?  "  exclaimed  Hany. 

Poor  Alice,  she  could  only  repeat  "  I  cannot  show  it  you — do  not 
ask  me  ! "  and  as  the  words  iDassed  her  lips,  she  felt  how  foolish,  or 
obstinate,  or  wicked,  they  must  make  her  appear.  Her  husband  rose 
and  took  a  turn  up  and  down  the  room,  as  was  his  wont  when  any- 
thing  annoyed  him,  yet  he  did  not  wish  to  lose  his  self -control— the 
first  symptom,  in  fact,  of  the  approach  of  his  "  quiet  manner."  Alice 
recognized  it  and  her  heart  fluttered,  and  her  colour  went  and  came. 
Having  regained  his  self-command,  Harry  reseated  himself,  and 
began : — 

"  You  need  not  be  afraid  to  trust  me  in  this  matter,  Alice,  love ;  I 
promise  you  I  will  do  nothing  inconsiderate  or  hasty,  if  you  will  but 
act  straightforwardly  by  me,  and  treat  me  with  proper  confidence. 
Alfred  Courtland  is  a  mere  boy ;  the  utmost  I  suspect  him  of  is 
foolish  romance,  which,  joined  by  his  inexperience  in  the  ways  of  the 
world,  enables  such  men  as  D  Almayne  to  guide  him  as  they  i)lease. 
I  have  an  old  regard  for  him,  having  kno^vn  him  from  his  childhood ; 
and  the  worst  I  am  likely  to  do  to  him  is  to  read  him  a  lecture,  give 
him  a  little  good  advice,  and  possibly  write  to  his  father,  and  suggest 
that  he  had  better  look  after  the  young  gentleman  until  he  is  a  year 
or  two  older,  and,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  wiser.  Perhaps,  even,  when  I 
see  the  letter  I  may  not  deem  it  necessary  to  intei-f  ere  at  all.  Come, 
do  not  let  any  fanciful  punctilio  weigh  with  you,  but  give  it  me  at 
once." 

"  Harry,  do  not  ask  me  !  Indeed,  indeed,  dear  Han-y,  I  cannot — 
must  not  show  it  to  you !  Oh !  how  unlucky,  how  strangely  un- 
foi-tunate  I  am ! — now,  too,  when  I  wanted  so  to  do  right ! "  and, 
overcome  by  the  emban-assment  of  the  situation,  Alice  burst  into 
tears. 

Surprised  and  annoyed  at  her  continued  refusal,  HaiTy,  despite  his 
confidence  in  his  wife's  fidelity,  not  unnaturally  began  to  suppose 
there  must  be  more  in  this  letter  than  he  had  at  first  imagined  ;  and 
his  desire  to  see  it  increased,  as  he  became  more  and  more  convinced 
that  Alice  meant  to  adhere  to  her  determination  not  to  show  it  to 
him.    Again  he  rose,  and  again,  more  impatiently  than  before,  began 


302  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

to  stride  up  and  down  the  room  :  lie  continued  silent  for  two  or  three 
minutes  and  wlien  lie  did  address  his  wife,  it  was  without  resuming 
liis  place  by  her  side. 

"  Many  men,"  he  said,  "  would  consider  themselves  justified  in 
forcing  you  to  show  that  letter ;  but  I  do  not  feel  so.  I  will,  instead, 
put  clearly  before  you  the  effect  which  your  agitation  and  your  deter- 
mination to  conceal  its  contents  must  necessarily  jiroduce  on  my 
mind.  Either  the  wiiter  must  addi-essyou  in  such  language  that  you 
are  afraid  to  show  it,  lest  it  should  lead  to  a  serious  misunderstand- 
ing between  him  and  me ;  or  he  refers  to  some  previous  passages 
between  you,  with  which  you  are  unwilling  your  husband  should 
become  acquainted.  Now,  as  I  have  before  said,  I  have  every  con- 
fidence in  you,  which  nothing  but  proof  positive  that  you  are  not 
deserving  of  it  could  shake.  The  matter  then  resolves  itseK  into 
this : — that  Couriland  has  addressed  you  in  that  letter  in  some  un- 
becoming style  ;  and  if  you  persist  in  refusing  to  satisfy  me  on  this 
point  in  the  only  effectual  manner,  viz.  by  showing  me  the  letter,  I 
shall  be  under  the  necessity  of  obtaining  the  information  in  some 
other  way  ;  and  when  once  I  have  taken  up  the  matter  and  begun  to 
act  for  myself,  depend  upon  it  I  shall  go  thi-ough  with  it,  to  whatever 
consequences  it  may  lead.  Should  they  be  such  as  to  cause  you 
soiTow,  remember  it  is  now  in  youi-  power  to  avert  them — then  it  will 
be  too  late !  Go  to  yom-  own  room,  and  reflect  on  all  this  quietly  and 
calmly.  If  you  decide  to  show  me  the  letter,  rely  on  my  moderation 
and  discretion ;  if  you  persist  in  youi*  refusal,  I  must  act  as  I  may 
consider  my  position  renders  necessary  ;  and  may  God  help  us  both 
if  evil  should  come  of  it !  If  you  should  think  better  of  your  unwise 
determination,  bring  or  send  me  the  letter  at  any  moment ;  laut  if  not, 
I  had  rather  you  remained  in  your  boudoir  during  the  evening,  as  I 
feel  deeply  on  this  matter,  and  cannot  trust  myseK  to  speak  of  it 
without  saying  things  which  I  should  be  sorry  for  aftei-wards.  Now 
go,  and  think  it  over.  Do  not  look  so  frightened,"  he  continued  in  a 
gentler  tone  ;  "  believe  me,  I  speak  more  in  sorrow  than  in  anger." 

"  Oh,  yes  !  I  see  you  do,"  returned  Alice,  in  a  tone  of  the  deepest 
emotion ;  "  and  it  is  that  which  is  breaking  my  heart !  I  had  rather, 
ten  thousand  times,  that  you  were  angi-y  with  me  :  and  yet  I  know  I 
am  doing  what  is  best !  "  She  paused  ;  then,  with  a  fresh  burst  of 
tears,  she  threw  herself  into  her  husband's  arms,  exclaiming,  "  Hai7*y ! 
dearest  Harry  !  have  pity  on  me  !  " 

Her  husband  soothed  and  supported  her  tenderly  till  she  grew  some- 
what calmer,  then,  kissing  her  forehead,  he  led  her  to  the  door,  saying 
kindly  but  gravely,  "  Have  pity  on  youi'seK,  darling;  act  as  I  would 
have  you,  and  all  will  go  well." 

Greatly  perplexed,  considerably  frightened,  and  altogether  in  that 
state  of  mind  which  can  best  be  described  by  the  term  "  upset,"  poor 
Alice's  first  performance  was  the  thorouglily  feminine  one  of  "  having 
her  cry  out."  Having  thus  poured  forth  her  grief,  via  her  eyelids, 
she  set  to  work  seriously  to  face  her  difiiculties,  and  come  to  some 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  303 

decision  wliicli  might,  if  possible,  reconcile  lier  conflicting  duties. 
The  simplest  and  easiest  way  woiild,  of  coiu'se,  he  to  do  as  Harry- 
wished  her ;  show  him  the  letter,  and  leave  him  to  decide  on  the 
matter,  both  for  her  and  for  himself.  With  this  view  she  carefully- 
re-read  it ;  and  when  she  had  done  so,  felt  more  than  ever  convinced 
that  to  allow  her  husband  to  see  it  would  be  to  ensiu-e  a  quan-el  with 
Horace  D'Almayne — and  from  that  to  a  hostile  meeting,  Han-y  shot, 
and  herself  sent  for  by  telegraph  to  receive  his  dying  benediction, 
was  only  a  natural  feminine  transition.  Supposing  she  were  to  adhere 
then — as  adhere  she  miist — to  her  resolution,  what  would  Harry  do  ? 
Set  ofE  for  London  to  seek  an  explanation  from  Lord  Alfred ;  yes, 
and  he  would  get  it  too  !  Lord  Alfred  would  be  forced  to  say  much 
the  same  as  he  had  written ;  for  it  was  clear  he  felt  no  delicacy  about 
showing  up  D  Almayne  ;  and  though,  perhaps,  he  might  not  mention 
the  business  in  regard  to  Miss  Crofton,  yet  Harry  would  soon  collect 
that  D  Almayne  had  first  suggested  to  Lord  Alfred  to  flirt  with  her, 
and  then  encouraged  him  to  try  and  change  what  would  have  been 
simply  an  agreeable  acquaintanceship  into  a  sentimental  love  affair ! 
Oh  !  if  she  had  but  known  all  this  sooner,  she  would  have  effectually 
cured  Lord  Alfred  of  his  "  penchant,"  instead  of  encoui'aging  him  in 
order  to  pique  Harry  out  of  his  supposed  indifference.  How  blind, 
how  stupid  she  had  been !  how  she  had  mistaken  everybody  and 
everything !  even  in  regard  to  Harry — his  conduct  about  this  letter — 
trusting  her  when  she  was  obliged  to  confess  appearances  were 
strongly  against  her — treating  her  with  such  tender  forbearance 
when  her  behaviour  must  seem  to  him,  to  say  the  least,  perverse  and 
incomprehensible !  How  differently  had  she  behaved  in  regard  to 
Miss  Crofton !  how  ready  had  she  been  to  suspect  Harry  on  the 
slightest  grounds  !  Yes,  she  saw  it  clearly  now,  her  mother's  inter- 
pretation of  that  speech  was  the  true  one — Harry  loved  her  still ; 
nay,  had  never  ceased  to  do  so.  Ah  !  her  first  idea  of  him  was  right 
— there  was  nobody  like  him ;  and  she  was  not  worthy  of  such 
happiness  as  to  be  his  wife — his  chosen  one — the  object  of  his  deep, 
tender,  manly  affection.  Her  eyes  were  open  at  last ;  she  saw  the 
truth ;  recognized  his  worth,  perceived  her  own  deficiencies  and 
faults.  If  this  wi-etched  business  could  ever  be  got  over,  how  careful 
she  would  be  to  guard  against  her  former  errors!  what  happiness 
was  there  not  yet  in  store  for  her !  Could  nothing  be  devised  ?  As 
she  pondered,  an  idea  struck  her.  Harry  evidently  would  take  no 
step  till  the  next  morning ;  the  post  had  not  yet  gone  out ;  thei-e 
would  be  time  for  her  to  write  to  Lord  Alfred,  explain  her  dilemma, 
and  appeal  to  his  good  feeling  to  leave  town  for  a  day  or  two.  Harry, 
thus  missing  him,  would  naturally  return  home,  when  she  would  ask 
Lord  Alfred  to  write  him  such  a  letter  as  would  satisfy  his  doubts — 
a  duplicate,  in  fact,  of  the  one  which  had  caused  all  this  trouble,  only 
without  the  attack  on  D  Almayne.  The  scheme  was  not  perfectly 
satisfactory  ;  still,  the  more  she  thought  of  it  the  more  she  became 
convinced  that  it  was  the  only  way  of  escape  from  the  present  emer- 


304  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

gency.  Lord  Alfred,  slie  felt  pretty  sure,  wotild  act  as  she  wished,  if 
she  made  his  compliance  the  condition  on  which  iher  forgiveness  of 
the  past  and  friendship  for  the  future  must  depend.  Then  she 
trusted  a  good  deal  to  the  chapter  of  accidents  to  help  her ;  and  at 
some  indefinite  epoch,  when  Horace  DAlmayne  should  have  gone 
abroad,  and  be  out|  of  Harry's  way,  she  would  show  him  the  letter, 
explain  why  she  had  not  done  so  sooner,  confess  the  words  she  had 
overheard  at  Lady  Tattersall  Trottemout's  party,  the  history  she  had 
been  told  in  regard  to  Arabella  Crof ton,  and  in  fact  (to  use  an  inele- 
gant but  graphic  expression)  make  a  clean  breast  of  it,  and  trust  to  his 
affection  to  pity  and  forgive  her.  So  she  sat  down  and  scribbled  off  a 
hun-ied  but  eloquent  letter  to  Lord  Alfred,  which  she  flattered  herself 
would  produce  the  effect  she  desired.  Having  completed  it,  she 
indited  a  few  lines  to  HaiTy,  telling  him  she  had  thought  the  matter 
over  calmly  and  seriously ;  and  with  the  strongest  desire  to  do  as  he 
wished  her,  she  yet  felt  it  her  duty  to  adhere  to  her  former  decision. 
In  the  meantime  Coverdale  sat  in  gloomy  meditation :  why  would 
not  Alice  let  him  see  that  letter  ?  he  could  not,  he  did  not  imagine  it 
contained  anjrthing  to  lessen  his  respect  and  affection  for  her ;  but  if 
not,  what  could  it  contain  to  make  her  so  resolute  not  to  show  it  to 
him  ?  He  x^erceived  with  pleasui'e,  though  it  added  to  his  perplexity, 
that  she  was  not  swayed  by  any  ebullition  of  temper,  but  was  acting 
from  a  sense  (however  mistaken)  of  duty ;  he  saw  the  pain  it  gave 
her  to  refuse  him,  and  appreciated  and  rejoiced  in  the  good  resolutions 
she  had  formed  at  the  Grange.  It  was  strange,  certainly,  how  events 
seemed  to  militate  against  the  happiness  of  his  man-ied  life  !  he  had 
forfeited  his  domestic  felicity  by  his  own  selfish  addiction  to  his 
bachelor  pursuits  and  habits,  and  it  appeared  impossible  to  regain 
it.  Then  he  commenced  a  minute  and  painful  review  of  all  the 
occurrences  of  his  matrimonial  career,  endeavouring  to  trace  out 
the  causes  which  had  led  to  each  several  result,  and  carefully 
scrutinizing  his  own  conduct,  to  discover  how  far  he  had  acted  up  to 
the  rules  he  had  laid  down  for  himself.  He  was  thus  engaged  when 
Alice's  note  was  brought  to  him  ;  he  read  it,  and  his  resolution  was 
formed :  he  would  go  to  London  by  the  first  train  the  next  morning, 
see  Lord  Alfred  Coui-tland,  and  learn  the  contents  of  his  letter,  either 
by  fair  means  or  foul ;  he  would  try  fair  means  first,  and  be  patient, 
and  for  Alice's  sake  endeavour  to  avoid  a  quarrel — yes,  that  was 
decided  on.  So  he  sat  down  and  wi'ote  a  couple  of  notes  to  put  off 
engagements  in  the  neighbourhood,  then  rang  the  bell.  "  Has  the 
post-bag  gone  ?  "  he  asked,  as  the  servant  appeared.  The  reply  was 
in  the  negative,  and  in  another  minute  Wilkins  returned  with  it. 
Harry  and  Alice  had  each  a  key,  bvit  when  he  was  at  home  hers  was 
seldom  used ;  he  was  therefore  rather  surprised  to  find  it  already 
locked.  Unlocking  it,  he  attempted  hastily  to  insert  his  two  notes, 
but  a  letter  which  was  in  the  bag  had  become  fixed  in  a  fold  of  the 
leather,  and  prevented  his  doing  so.  With  an  exclamation  of  im- 
patience he  took  it  out,  and  was  about  to  replace  it,  when  the  address 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  305 

accidentally  cau.^lit  his  eye ;  it  was  in  his  wife's  handwriting,  and 
directed  to  Lord  Alfred  Courtland,  with  "  immediate  "  wi-itten  in  one 
corner.  "  Leave  the  bag  two  or  thi-ee  minutes,  Wilkins,"  he  said 
hurriedly.  "  I  have  thought  of  something  else."  As  soon  as  the 
servant  quitted  the  room,  Coverdale  again  took  up  the  letter.  What 
could  it  mean  ? — why  had  Alice  written  off  in  such  hot  haste  to  this 
young  man  ?  Had  she  divined  his  intention  of  seeking  out  Lord 
Alfred,  and  was  this  letter  sent  off  thus  hurriedly  to  tutor  him  what 
to  say — or,  worse  still,  what  to  conceal  ?  Should  he  end  all  these 
wretched  douijts  and  suspicions  at  once — should  he  send  for  Alice, 
and  in  her  presence  open  and  read  the  letter  ?  The  temptation  was 
a  strong  one,  but  he  overcame  it.  Even  if  the  cii'cumstances  of  the 
case  were  sufficient  to  warrant  him,  he  felt  it  would  be  an  act  of 
domestic  tyranny  against  which  his  generous  nature  revolted.  "What 
should  he  do  then  ?  Suffer  the  letter  to  go,  and  so  throw  away  his 
only  chance  of  an-iving  at  the  truth  ?  No,  that  would  be  mere  weak- 
ness :  his  resolution  was  f  onned.  Putting  Alice's  letter  in  his  pocket, 
he  relocked  the  post-bag,  and  ringing  the  bell,  desired  it  might  be 
taken  immediately.  Having  seen  his  order  executed,  he  sat  down 
and  wrote  a  note,  and  sealed  up  a  packet.  Aboixt  four  hours  later  on 
the  same  evening,  i.e.  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  this  packet  was 
placed  in  Alice's  hands ;  it  contained  her  letter  to  Lord  Alfred 
Courtland,  unopened,  and  the  following  note  from  her  husband : — 

"  My  dear  Alice, — When  you  receive  this  I  shall  be  on  my  road 
to  London,  whither  I  am  going  to  have  a  little  serious  conversation 
with  Alfred  Courtland.  As  I  wish  and  intend  him  to  tell  the  truth 
uninfluenced,  I  have  taken  upon  me  to  delay  your  letter  a  post. 
Trusting  this  affair  may  end  so  as  to  secure  your  happiness,  in  which 
I  think  you  now  see  mine  is  involved, 

"  I  am,  ever  yours  affectionately, 

"  H.  C. 

"  P.S. — If  you  have  occasion  to  write  to  me,  direct  to  Arthur's 
chambers." 


30G  HARRY  CO VERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 


CHAPTER  LT. 

OTHELLO  VISITS  CASSIO. 

Contrary  to  Mr.  Philip  Tirrett's  expectation,  Don  Pasquale's 
delicate  fore  leg  improved  under  training,  and  became  so  nearly- 
sound  that  he  and  Captain  O'Brien  were  quite  depressed  when  they 
reflected  that  but  for  its  temper,  which  was  vile,  the  horse  was  really 
worth  two  out  of  the  .£350  they  had  received  from  Lord  Alfred 
Courtland  for  it,  and  regretted  with  sundry  strong  but  unavailing 
expletives  their  folly  in  not  having  demanded  .£500,  which  they  now 
considered  to  be  its  figure  in  "  proper  "  (i.e.  their  own  dirty)  hands. 
A  conclave  had  been  held  at  the  Pandemonium,  and  the  handsome 
guai'dsman,  and  the  fast  comet,  and  the  heavy  lieutenant,  and  sundry 
other  noble  and  gallant  cavaliers,  had  entered  spicy  screws,  with 
impossible  names :  and  a  steeple-chase,  with  gentlemen  riders,  was  to 
come  oif  in  a  sporting  locality,  within  easy  distance  of  London,  on  a 
certain  day.  This  day  had  nearly  an-ived,  when  on  the  same  after- 
noon which  witnessed  Alice  Coverdale's  i-etum  home,  and  the 
uncomfortable  scene  produced  by  the  delivery  of  Lord  Alfred's 
letter,  that  yoimg  nobleman  was  seated  at  a  library  table  in  his 
fashionable  lodgings,  poring  over  his  betting  book,  which,  since  the 
Blackwall  dinner,  was,  we  suspect,  the  only  book  he  had  looked  into, 
when  "  to  him  entered  "  Horace  D  Alraayne. 

**  What !  at  it  still  ?  "  he  exclaimed ;  "  why, '  mon  cher,'  you'll  be 
fit  for  some  '  bookkeeping-by-double-entry '  style  of  appointment 
before  this  business  comes  off.    How  do  you  stand  by  this  time  ?  " 

"  Safe  to  win  jESOO  if  the  Don  does  but  run  true,"  was  the  reply. 

"  And  if  he  should  make  a  fiasco  by  any  unlucky  chance  P  " 

"  Don't  talk  about  it ;  time  enough  to  face  evil  when  it  comes, 
without  going  half-way  to  meet  it.  The  Don  is  looking  splendid ;  he 
improves  every  day  under  training,  and  even  Tin-ett  seems  sui-prised 
at  his  performance.  Dick  took  him  over  the  brook  this  morning,  and, 
by  Jove  !  he  cleared  it  in  his  stride,  and  six  feet  beyond,  at  the  least. 
TiiTctt  seems  sure  about  the  line  of  course ;  if  so,  that  brook  will  win 
us  the  race.  Captain  O'Brien's  is  the  only  horse  that  I'm  at  all 
afraid  of,  and  Tirrett's  got  out  of  his  groom  that  Broth-of-a-boy 
won't  face  water." 

"  Witnessing  these  trials  necessitates  a  frightful  amount  of  early 
rising,  does  it  not, '  mon  cher '  ?  "  inquired  D'Almayne,  with  a  half 
pitying,  half-provoking  smile  ;  "  breakfast  comes  off  at  six,  I  suppose 
instead  of  eleven  or  twelve  ?  You  look  sleepy  now  from  your  unusual 
exertions." 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  307 

"Weill  may,"  was  the  reply;  "I  dined  with  the  Guards' Mess 
yesterday,  and  went  knockin,^  about  with  Bellingham  and  Annesley 
afterwards  ;  got  home  about  3  a.m.,  had  a  cigar  and  a  bottle  of  soda- 
water,  changed  my  dress  clothes,  and  slept  in  the  arm-chair  until 
Tirrett  came  for  me  in  a  dog-cart  at  half-past  four, — for  they  take 
the  Don  out  as  soon  as  it's  light." 

"  Tou  certainly  improve,  '  mon  ami ' :  you  have  learned  how  to 
live,  instead  of  merely  existing,  as  you  used  to  do,  and  are  better  able 
to  take  care  of  yourself  : — which  is  foi-tunate,  by  the  way,  for  I've 
come  to  tell  you  (what  on  your  account  I'm  very  sorry  for)  that  I 
shall  be  unable  to  be  with  you  at  this  said  steeple-chase." 

A  start  and  an  exclamation  of  surprise,  we  had  almost  said  of  con- 
sternation, which  escaped  Lord  Alfred  at  this  announcement,  might 
have  suggested  that  he  did  not  feel  quite  such  implicit  confidence  in 
his  own  resom-ces  as  his  associate's  compliment  would  seem  to  imply. 
He  only  said,  however, — 

"  Eh,  really !  what  an  awful  bore !  But  why  are  you  going  to 
throw  me  over  ?  " 

"  Simply  because,  not  being  a  bird,  my  presence  in  Brussels  and 
at  the  steeple-chase  at  one  and  the  same  time  is,  to  speak  mildly, 
impossible." 

"And,  in  the  name  of  common  sense,  why  go  to  Brussels  at  this 
particular  juncture  ?  "  inquired  his  lordship. 

"  Que  diable  allait-il  faire  dans  cette  galere !  "  quoted  Horace ; 
"  business  takes  me — not  pleasure,  I  assure  you.  It  seems  this  East 
Indiaman,  over  the  loss  of  which  old  Crane  has  been  whining  and 
pining  for  the  last  three  days,  was  heavily  insured  in  a  Belgian 
house ;  but  owing  to  some  supposed  informality  in  the  drawing  up  of 
the  papers,  they,  on  hearing  of  the  shipwreck,  deny  their  liability. 
Now,  a  cousin  of  mine  is  an  '  avocat ' — the  same  thing  as  a  barrister 
— at  Brussels,  so  I  am  going  over  to  put  the  case  in  his  hands.  Old 
Crane  pays  my  expenses,  and  gives  me  a  very  handsome  commission, 
and — you  know  I  never  make  any  secret  of  the  unfortunate  anomaly, 
that  my  habits  are  expensive,  and  my  pocket  shallow — I  can't  afford 
to  throw  such  a  chance  away.  I  tell  you  this  in  confidence,  to  prove 
to  you  that  I  really  am  unable  to  see  you  tlu-ough  this  horse  business, 
which  from  the  first,  you  are  aware.  I  never  liked ;  Ijut  I  find,  as  I 
suspect  many  mentors  have  found  before  me,  that  it's  a  good  deal 
easier  to  lead  on  a  young  fellow  of  spirit  like  you,  '  mon  cher,'  than 
to  hold  him  back." 

Lord  Alfred  smiled  faintly — a  pre-occupied  smile— at  the  implied 
compliment,  for  his  mind  was  engrossed  by  the  prospect  of  the  loss 
of  D'Almayne's  presence  and  support  at  the  steeple-chase— a  loss  at 
which  he  felt  vastly  more  uneasy  than  he  would  have  been  at  all 
willing  to  confess.  Anxious  as  much  to  be  re-assured  himself  as  to 
inspire  his  companion  with  confidence,  he  said,  in  a  tone  which, 
desi^ite  his  endeavours  to  the  contrary,  betrayed  his  self-distrust, — 

"  Yes,  but  really,  D'Aluiayne,  even  taking  your  view  of  the  matter, 


308  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

I  don't  see  reasonably  what  there  is  to  ci'oak  about:  that  younpf 
fellow  TiiTett,  who  has  been  born  and  bred  among  horses,  and  knows 
practically  what  those  prigs  of  guardsmen — the  frightfully  heavy 
dragoon,  the  romancing  Irish  captain,  and  last  and  least,  my  innocent 
self — pretend  to  know,  assures  me  there's  no  horse  entered  that  can 
come  near  the  Don.  As  they  are  to  be  all  ridden  by  gentlemen,  and 
he  is  a  gentleman  rider  (so  called,  like  the  theatrical  walking  gentle- 
man, from  his  being  utterly  unlike  the  genuine  article — on  the 
'  Incus  a  non  lucendo  '  principle,  I  imagine),  he  rides  for  me,  and  I 
depend  a  great  deal  on  his  perfect  acquaintance  with  all  the  peculi- 
arities of  the  horse  (for, '  entre  nous,'  I  fancy  his  temjDcr  is  his  weak 
point)  ;  and  as  his  pay  is  to  be  more  than  doubled  in  the  event  of  his 
winning,  I  think  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  he  will  do  me  justice 
and  to  feel  sanguine  as  to  the  result." 

"  Well,  '  mon  cher,'  I  wish  you  most  heartily  success,"  was  the 
reply  ;  "  and  I  still  more  wish  I  could  remain  and  see  you  through  it ; 
for  without  meaning  to  throw  discredit  on  young  Tirrett,  or  any  of 
them  in  particular,  I,  as  a  general  rule,  mistrust  these  horse  people. 
However,  I  think  you  have  your  eyes  open,  and  may  be  trusted  to  take 
care  of  yourself.  And  now  I  must  be  off ;  I  embark  at  eight  to-night. 
By  the  way,  I  dare  say  you'll  allow  me  to  write  a  note  here  ;  it  will 
save  my  going  roimd  by  the  cliib." 

Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he  seated  himself  at  a  librai-y  table 
and  wi'ote  as  follows : — 

"Dear  Tirrett,— Your  game  is  clear;   let  A.  C.  and  O'B n 

each  believe  that  you  will  ride  for  him,  and  at  the  last  minute  throw 
both  over.  In  this  case  Captain  Annesley's  Black  Eagle  is  safe  to 
win,  as  I  dare  say  you  know  better  than  I  do  ;  thus  you  will  perceive 
how  to  make  a  paying  book.     If  I  prove  a  true  prophet,  I  shall  expect 

a  .£50  note  from  you,  as  O'B n  will  (before  you  quarrel  with  him) 

tell  you  I  got  up  the  whole  affair  myself,  introducing  him  to  A.  C,  &c. 

"  I  i-emain,  yours  faithfully, 

"  ToTJ'lL   know   who   VFHEN   I   CLAIM   THE   TIN. 

"  P.S. — If  you  make  a  heavy  purse  out  of  the  business,  I  shall 
expect  ten  per  cent,  on  all  beyond  <£500." 

Having  sealed  this  precious  missive,  and  put  a  penny  stamp  of 
Lord  Alfred's  upon  it,  he  consigned  it  to  his  pocket,  took  an  affec- 
tionate farewell  of  his  victim,  and  departed. 

When  Harry  Coverdale  reached  London  that  evening,  Horace 
D'Almayne  was  "  off  the  Nore,"  and  feeling  none  the  better  for  sea- 
air,  wished  most  heartily  that  he  was  "  off  "  the  ocean  also.  In  order 
to  make  up  for  his  want  of  sleep  on  the  previous  night.  Lord  AKred 
Courtland  desired  his  valet  not  to  let  him  be  disturbed  until  he  rang 
his  bell,  the  result  of  which  order  was,  that  at  one  p.m.  on  the  follow- 
ing moi-ning  his  lordship  was  eating  his  breakfast  in  that  state  of 
dreamy  imbecility  usually  induced  by  an  over-dose  of  "nature's 
sweet  restorer."    From  this  mental  torpor  he  was  in  some  degree 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  309 

aroiised  by  a  quick,  sharp,  and  decided  knock  at  the  door,  followed 
by  a  heavy  but  active  footstep  on  the  stairs,  and  ere  he  had  time 
properly  to  regain  his  sleep-scattered  senses,  the  valet  announced 
Mr.  Coverdale. 

"  You're  just  about  the  last  person  I  expected  to  see  in  town  !  " 
exclaimed  Lord  Alfred,  languidly  rising  and  holding  out  two  fingers 
— a  mild  civility  of  which  Harry  did  not  avail  himself.  "  I  thought 
you  were  revelling  in  all  the  sweets  of  rural  felicity,  and  that  nothing 
would  have  tempted  you  to  leave  them.  I'm  uncommonly  glad  to 
see  you,  though,"  he  continued,  as  it  suddenly  occun-ed  to  him  that 
Coverdale  would  be  a  vei-y  good  substitute  for  Hoi-ace  D'Almayne, 
to  advise  and  see  him  through  this  alarming  steeple-chase,  in  regard 
to  which  two  fixed  ideas  constantly  haunted  him,  viz.  that  he  had 
risked  a  sum  of  money  upon  it  much  larger  than  he  had  any  right  to 
have  done  ;  and  that  he  was  as  entirely  ignorant  of  the  whole  affair, 
and  as  completely  in  Tirrett's  hand,  as  a  baby  could  have  been  under 
the  circumstances.  "  I'll  tell  you  why,"  he  continued  ;  "  the  truth  ia, 
I've  got  in  Lfor  an  affair,  the  magnitude  of  which  I  by  no  means 
bargained  for  ;  in  fact,  I  should  not  be  surprised  or  offended  if  (as  I 
know  you're  both  a  kind  friend  and  a  i^lain-spoken  fellow)  you  were 
to  tell  me  I'd  made  a  considerable  ass  of  myself." 

"  One  moment,  Courtland,"  inteiTupted  Coverdale ;  "  I  have  come 
to  town  expressly  to  see  you  in  regai'd  to  a  matter  which  neai'ly 
concems  me  ;  and  until  we  have  discussed  that  I  really  cannot  give 
my  attention  to  anything  else.  Now  listen  to  me,  Alfred,"  he 
continued  gravely,  but  not  angrily  :  "  I've  been  acquainted  with  you 
since  you  were  a  child,  and  I  know  your  good  points  as  well  as  your 
weak  ones.  I  know,  althoiigh  you're  easily  led  away  by  bad  precept 
and  worse  example,  that  you've  a  kind  heart  and  a  generous  nature  ; 
and  so,  for  the  sake  of  this  old  regard,  I  have  allowed  you  to — to 
amuse  yourself  and  occupy  your  idle  time  by  devoting  yourself  to 
my  wife  ;  and  I  am  now  about  to  talk  to  you,  and  reason  with  you 
on  the  subject,  in  afar  milder  tone  than  I  should  use  to  any  other 
man  under  the  circumstances." 

Lord  Alfred  was  abo^^t  eagerly  to  interrupt  him,  but  by  a  gesture 
Harry  restrained  him, — 

"  Hear  me  out,"  he  continued,  "  and  then,  when  you  understand 
the  tenour  and  amount  of  my  accusation,  you  can  say  what  you  like 
in  your  defence.  Tou  considered  my  wife  pretty  and  good-natured, 
and  you  fancied,  or  were  told,  it  would  give  you  eclat  with  the  set 
you  have  unfortunately  mixed  up  with — and  a  very  shady  set  I'm. 
afraid  they  are — to  have  a  sentimental  love-affair  with  some  pretty 
young  married  woman.  I  was  not  quite  the  blind  careless  creature 
you  imagined  me  all  the  time  we  were  in  London ;  on  the  contrary,  I 
saw  what  was  going  on  plainly  enough,  and  was  annoyed  at  it — but 
nothing  more.  I  had  the  most  thorough  confidence  in  my  wife  ;  and 
she  is  so  real  in  all  her  feelings,  so  completely  fresh  and  genuine, 
that  I  was  not  afraid  your  sentimentality  would  infect  her ;  more- 


310  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

over,  I  trusted  to  your  own  good  lieai-t  to  keep  you  from  going  very 
far  wi-ong ;  but,  towards  the  conclusion  of  our  stay  in  Park  Lane,  I 
teard  remai'ks  dropped  at  clubs,  and  observed  other  things,  which 
made  me  resolve  to  put  an  end  to  the  folly  :  and  as  the  quietest  and 
best  way  of  doing  so,  I  took  Alice  out  of  town.  As  far  as  she  was 
concerned,  the  experiment  appears  to  have  succeeded,  for  I  can't 
flatter  your  vanity  by  saying  that  I  believe  she  ever  gave  you  a 
second  thought.  But  with  you  it  does  not  seem  to  have  had  the 
desired  effect;  for,  a  few  days  since,  I  was  not  best  pleased  to 
perceive  a  letter  for  my  wife  in  youi-  handwriting.  Wait !  "  he  con- 
tinued, seeing  Lord  Alfred  was  again  about  to  speak ;  "  hear  me 
out :  I  shall  not  try  your  patience  much  longer.  This  letter  I  chose 
to  give  her  myself,  for  the  puri)ose  of  asking  her,  as  soon  as  she  had 
read  it,  to  show  it  to  me — " 

"  And  she  refused  ?  "  observed  Lord  Alfred  coolly. 

"  Yes,  sir,  she  did  ! "  returned  Han-y,  with  flashing  eyes ;  "  she 
refused  to  show  me  that  letter ;  and  at  the  same  time  was  unable  or 
unwilling  to  give  me  any  good  reason  for  objecting  to  satisfy  my 
just  demand  :  and  now,  perhaps,  you  can  guess  at  the  nature  of  my 
business  with  yon.  I  have  come  ^^p  to  town  to  obtain  from  you  the 
information  I  have  been  unable  to  gain  from  her ;  and  I  now  ask  you 
to  repeat  to  me,  as  nearly  as  you  can,  word  for  word,  the  contents  of 
that  letter." 

"  Under  what  penalty  if  I  should  decline  to  comply  with  your — 
somewhat  unusual  request  ?  "  was  the  reply. 

Haii-y's  brow  grew  dark.  "  I  have  not  wasted  a  thought  on  so 
unlikely  a  contingency,"  he  said  abruptly. 

There  was  a  pause,  then  Lord  Alfred  rose,  and  drawing  up  his  tall 
but  slender  figure  to  its  full  height,  replied, — 

"  Now  listen  to  me,  Ooverdale  ;  you  have  spoken  unpleasant  truths 
to  me  in  an  unpleasant  manner — a  manner  which,  boy  as  you  deem 
me,  I  should  in  any  other  man  resent;  but  you  are,  as  you  have  said, 
one  of  my  oldest  friends,  and  as  such  privileged.  Moreover,  in  the 
transactions  you  allude  to,  I  freely  confess  that  I  have  been  to 
blame  ;  and  I  have  no  objection  to  tell  you  that  my  chief  object  in 
writing  to  Mrs.  Coverdale  was  to  make  her  aware  of  this,  and  ask 
her  to  forgive  me  any  annoyance  I  might  have  caused  her.  Having 
explained  thus  much  to  you,  you  must  excuse  my  declining  to  say 
more." 

"  Indeed  I  shall  do  no  such  thing,"  was  Coverdale's  angi"y  reply ; 
"  you  have  told  me  no  more  than  Alice  told  me  herself.  Sir,  I  came 
to  town  expressly  to  learn  from  you  the  contents  of  that  letter,  and 
by  fair  means  or  foul  I  intend  to  do  so  !  I  may  not  know  how  to 
deal  with  women,  but,  by  heaven  !  I  do  know  how  to  deal  with  men, 
or  with  green  boys,  who  give  themselves  the  airs  of  men,  before  they 
have  acquired  a  man's  strength,  either  of  mind  or  body  !  "  He  took 
a  turn  up  and  down  the  room,  then  continued  in  a  milder  tone — 
•'  Come,  Alired,  do  not  let  us  quarrel  about  this  foolish  affair ;  you 


a^ 


w^/y. 


/ 


312  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

I  can't  tnist  myself;  so  if  you  are  not  utterly  reckless,  leave  me 
alone ! " 

As  he  spoke,  he  unconsciously  tightened  his  grasp  on  the  young 
nobleman's  shoulder,  till  it  became  so  exquisitely  painful  that  it 
required  all  the  fortitude  Lord  Alfred  could  muster  to  endure  it 
without  flinching.  Whether  owing  to  this  practical  proof  of  his 
adversai-y's  strength,  or  whether  he  read  in  Harry's  flashing  eye  and 
quirering  lip  the  volcano  of  passion  that  smouldered  within,  cei-tain 
it  is  that  as  soon  as  the  gi-asp  was  removed  from  his  aching  shoulder, 
Lord  Alfred  turned  away,  and  seated  himself  with  a  discontented  air 
in  an  attitude  of  passive  expectation. 

After  pacing  the  room  in  moody  cogitation  for  several  minutes, 
Coverdale  suddenly  paused,  and  said, — 

"  I  was  unprepared  for  this  refusal,  so  pertinaciously  adhered  to, 
and  I  confess  it  embarrasses  even  more  than  it  provokes  me.  I 
fancied— that  is,  I  forgot  you  were  not  really  a  boy  still,  and  imagined 
that  when  you  found  I  was  serious  about  the  matter,  your  will  would 
yield  to  mine ;  it  seems  I  was  mistaken.  Any  other  man  who  had 
withstood  me  as  you  have  done,  on  such  a  subject,  would  now  be 
lying  at  my  feet ;  but  I  can  no  more  bring  myself  to  use  my  strength 
against  you  than  I  could  bear  to  strike  a  woman ;  and  as  to  the 
alternative  which  equalizes  strength,  I  shudder  at  the  idea  as  a 
temptation  direct  from  Satan.  If  I  were  to  shoot  you,  I  should 
never  know  another  happy  moment.  How  should  I  face  that  kind 
old  man,  your  father,  who,  when  I  was  a  boy,  has  given  me  many  a 
sovereign  in  the  holidays  ?  I  should  feel  like  a  second  Cain,  as  if  I 
had  slain  my  brother !  " 

This  speech,  which  Han-y  delivered  eagerly  and  with  evidences  of 
deep  feeling,  appealed  to  Lord  Alfred's  better  nature  :  he  gi-ew  more 
and  more  excited  as  it  proceeded,  and  at  its  conclusion  he  sprang  up, 
exclaiming, — 

"  'Pon  my  word — 'pen  my  honour  as  a  gentleman,  Coverdale,  I 
assure  you  you  are  woiTying  yourself  about  notliing  !  I  own  I  have 
behaved  wrongly— foolishly  in  this  matter,  and  I  am  very  sorry  for 
it.  But  your  wife  is  an  angel,  and  cares  for  you  and  you  only  :  she 
treated  me  with  friendly  kindness,  but  nothing  more :  I  am  to  blame 
entirely." 

"  Why  then  does  she  so  obstinately  refuse  to  show  me  your  letter, 
and  why  do  you  object  to  enlighten  me  as  to  the  contents,  and  so 
satisfy  me  and  set  the  matter  at  rest  for  ever  P  "  inquired  Hari-y. 

Lord  Alfred  paused  for  a  moment  in  thought  ere  he  replied. 

"  I  think  I  can  divine  Mrs.  Coverdale's  reason  for  not  showing  my 
letter  to  you,  and  if  so,  it  is  one  that  does  her  credit ;  but  it  is  enough 
for  me  to  know  that  she  does  not  wish  its  contents  revealed,  to  make 
me  feel  that,  as  a  man  of  honour,  I  am  bound  to  be  silent.  Believe 
me,  Coverdale,  I  do  not  say  this  to  annoy  you,  or  to  set  you  at 
defiance.  I  would  gladly  tell  you,  if  I  did  not  think  it  would  be  dis- 
honourable and  wrong  to  do  so.    I  wish  to  heaven  I  had  never  written 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  313 

the  letter  now,  since  it  has  produced  all  this  annoyance ;  but  I  really 
did  it  for  the  best — I  did,  upon  ray  honoixr ! " 

He  spoke  with  such  an  air  of  truthfulness,  and  his  manner  was  so 
simple  and  ingenuous,  that  Coverdale  felt  it  impossible  to  doubt 
his  veracity ;  and  for  a  moment  he  was  on  the  point  of  flinging  his 
suspicions  to  the  winds,  and,  shaking  hands  with  Lord  Alfred,  to  tell 
him  everything  was  forgotten  and  forgiven.  But  Harry's  mind  was 
of  that  order  which  is  slow  to  receive  a  feeling  so  foreign  to  its 
general  tone  as  suspicion,  and  which,  when  the  idea  has  once  become 
fixed,  finds  equal  difficulty  in  relinquishing  it.  Thus,  in  the  present 
case,  having  convinced  himself  that  the  only  satisfactory  way  of 
clearing  np  his  doubts  would  be  by  gaining  oral  or  ocular  acquaint- 
ance with  the  contents  of  the  mysterious  letter,  he  could  in  no  way 
divest  himself  of  the  conviction,  but  was  continually  looking  out  for 
reasons  in  its  favour.  Instead,  therefore,  of  yielding  to  his  first 
impulse,  he  reflected  that  having  refused  to  put  faith  in  Alice's 
unsupported  assertion,  he  should  equally  be  unjust  to  her,  and  un- 
true to  his  own  convictions,  if  he  gave  credence  to  that  of  Lord 
Alfred  Courtland.    So,  taking  up  his  hat,  he  said, — 

"  Since  you  persist  in  your  refusal,  I  must  go  and  think  this  matter 
over  coolly  and  quietly ;  you  shall  see  or  hear  from  me  before  this 
time  to-morrow."  He  tm-ned  to  depart,  but  Lord  Alfred  held  out 
his  hand, — 

"  We  part  as  friends  ?  "  he  said  inquiringly. 

"  Neither  as  friends  nor  foes,"  was  the  reply.  "  You  shall  learn 
my  decision  to-morrow."  And  rejecting  his  proffered  hand,  Cover- 
dale  quitted  the  apartment. 


CHAPTER  LII. 

A  GLEAM  OF   LIGHT. 

No  alarming  amount  of  imagination  will  be  required  to  enable  the 
reader  to  conceive  that  Harry  returaed  to  his  hotel  considerably 
provoked  and  dissatisfied  at  the  result  of  his  interview  with  Lord 
Alfred  Courtland.  He  had  encountered  opposition  where  he  had 
expected  an  easy  victory ;  where  he  had  felt  certain  of  success,  he 
had  failed  most  signally ;  and  by  no  means  the  least  embaiTassLng 
part  of  the  matter  was,  that  he  really  did  not  know  whether  to  be 
most  angry,  or  pleased,  with  Lord  Alfred,  for  his  unexpected  firm, 
ness.    But,  if  the  past  was  perplexing,  the  future  api^eared  much 


314  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

more  so.  On  quitting  Lord  Alfred,  he  had  called  at  Horace 
D'Almayne's  lodginf^s,  where  he  acquired  the  information  that  their 
usual  occupant  had  started  for  the  continent  on  the  pi-evious  even- 
in^''.  Baffled  in  eveiy  attempt  to  obtain  information  concerning;  the 
mysterious  letter,  which  haunted  his  imagination  with  the  pertiniicity 
of  some  intiiisive  spectre  callous  to  the  restringent  influence  of  bell, 
book,  and  candle,  Coverdale,  after  lying  awake  the  greater  part  of 
the  night,  bent  his  steps,  the  first  thing  the  next  morning,  in  the 
direction  of  his  brothei'-in-law's  chambers,  wishing  to  consult  him, 
but  at  the  same  time  feeling  so  unwilling  to  blame  Alice,  even  by 
imputation,  that  the  chances  were  against  his  taking  such  a  step. 
On  reaching  his  destination,  however,  the  difficulty  solved  itself,  for, 
early  as  was  the  hour,  Ai-thiu'  was  from  home,  but  Coverdale  found 
a  letter  awaiting  him  in  Alice's  handwriting.  Hastily  tearing  it 
open,  an  enclosure  di-opjoed  from  it,  and  on  stooping  to  pick  it  up  he 
perceived,  to  his  extreme  surpnse,  that  it  was  the  identical  epistle 
which  had  ab'eady  caused  him  a  journey  to  London  and  a  sleepless 
night;  and  which,  but  for  his  forbearance  and  kindliness  of  dis- 
position, might  have  involved  him  in  a  serious  quan-el — if  nothing 
worse — with  his  former  friend  and  school-fellow.  Alice's  letter, 
which  bore  every  mark  of  having  been  written  under  feelings  of  the 
gi-eatest  excitement,  ran  as  follows  : — 

"  Dearest  Harry, — Tour  hasty  departure  has  overturned  all  my 
plans  and  anangements,  which,  believe  me,  were  made  with  a  view 
only  to  try  and  avert  the  catastrophe  which,  I  shudder  to  think,  may 
be  even  now  impending.  Justice  to  Lord  AKred,  who  may  have 
incurred  your  indignation,  as  well  as  my  anxiety  to  clear  myself  in 
your  eyes  by  making  you  acquainted  with  the  whole  truth,  induce 
me  to  send  you  the  intei'esting  letter  which  has  given  rise  to  all  this 
sad  misunderstanding  ;  and,  as  I  imugine  you  ha,ve  ere  this  seen  and 
come  to  some  sort  of  explanation  with  Lord  Alfred,  my  reason  for 
withholding  it  exists  no  longer.  When  you  read  it,  you  will  perceive 
why  I  was  so  unwilling  to  show  it  to  you.  I  felt  convinced  that  the 
passages  referring  to  Mr.  D'Almayne,  which  completely confii-m  the  un- 
favourable opinion  you  have  always  entertained  of  him,  would  imtate 
you  greatly  against  him  ;  and,  when  Lord  Alfred  proceeds  to  write 
of  him  as  a  noted  duellist,  a  dead  shot,  etc.,  you  may  smile  at  my 
womanly  weakness,  but  can  you  wonder  that  I  hesitated  to  show  you 
the  letter,  that  I  chose  rather  to  allow  you  to  think  untrue  things  of 
me  than  to  clear  myself  at  the  risk  of  imperilling  your  safety  P  And 
now,  dearest  Harry,  if  you  love  me  as  you  say,  and  as  I  hope  and 
believe  you  do,  if  you  would  ever  have  me  know  another  moment's 
peace,  and  not  be  weighed  down  by  endless  self-reproach,  return 
home,  I  implore  you,  without  taking  any  further  step  in  this  matter. 
I  am  not  afraid,  when  you  have  seen  his  penitent  letter,  that  you  will 
be  angry  with  Lord  Alfred,  but  I  entreat  of  you  to  avoid  that  hateful 
Mr.  D'Almayne.    Even  supposing  that  he  has  been  the  cause  of  all 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  315 

this  itnhappiness ;  that  is  row  passed,  and  he  will  be  powerless  to 
influence  our  futiu-e  life.  I  am  quite  willing,  if  it  will  be  any  satis- 
faction to  you,  to  agree  never  to  spend  another  spring  in  London ; 
I  have  seen  enough  of  its  heartless  dissipation  and  frivolity,  and  for 
the  future  hope  to  find  my  happiness  in  our  own  dear  home,  which, 
if  you  do  but  return  to  it  safe  and  sound,  I  would  not  exchange  for 
a  queen's  palace.  Pray,  pray,  dearest  Harry,  come  back  without 
delay.  I  have  womed  and  fretted  myself  quite  ill  already,  and  shall 
be  wretched  till  I  see  you  again.    Ever  your  i^enitent,  but  loving, 

"Alice." 

Having  pemsed  his  wife's  letter  with  mingled  feelings  of  satisfac- 
tion and  regret — satisfaction  to  find  how  completely  she  was  able  to 
clear  herself,  and  regret  at  the  pain  and  annoyance  which  he  was 
sure  this  affair  must  have  occasioned  her, — Coverdale  unfolded  and 
read  carefully  Lord  Alfred's  epistle,  which  had  occasioned  results 
the  Ava-iter  little  contemplated.  At  his  lordship's  ingenuous  confes- 
sion of  his  follies  and  absurdities,  HaiTy  smiled,  muttering,  "  Poor 
boy !  I  wish  I  had  not  been  so  sharp  with  him  yesterday ;  "  bi^t  as  he 
went  on  his  brow  contracted,  and  when  he  came  to  the  account  of 
Horace  D'Almayne,  and  the  repoi-t  he  had  circulated  in  regard  to 
Coverdale  and  Miss  Crofton,  he  could  restrain  his  rage  no  longer, 
and  spnnging  up,  be  exclaimed,  "  Scoundrel !  mean,  pitiful,  lying 
scoimdrel !  but  he  shall  answer  to  me  for  this.  A  bold  rogue,  who 
would  execute  his  own  villainy,  is  a  prince  to  a  rascal  like  this,  who 
lays  a  plot  to  deprive  me  of  my  wife's  affections,  and  then  makes  a 
cats'-paw  of  that  poor  foolish  boy  to  can^f  it  out.  I  see  it  all  now. 
The  behaviour  which  appeared  so  strange  and  imaccountable  in  my 
darling  Alice,  proceeded  from  a  very  natural  feeling  of  jealousy, 
excited  by  all  these  abominable  reports ;  and,  the  worst  of  it  is,  that 
even  now  I  can't  be  entirely  open  with  her,  because  of  my  promise  to 
Arabella.  I  wish  to  heaven  I  had  never  been  fool  enough  to  bind 
myself! — and  yet  how  could  I  avoid  it?  for  she  has  a  good  heart  and 
a  generous  disposition — though,  partly  from  a  bad  education,  partly 
from  natural  temperament,  her  ideas  are  sadly  wai-ped.  I  am  sure 
she  really  loved  me ;  of  course,  in  a  conventional  point  of  view,  it 
was  not  right  in  her  to  do  so  ;  but — well,  it's  no  use  humbugging — I 
don't  believe  the  man  ever  bi-eathed,  who  honestly,  and  from  his 
heart,  could  blame  a  woman  for  loving  him ;  principle  and  reason 
may  accuse  her,  but  feeling  defends  her  so  eloquently,  that  the  cause 
is  gained  at  the  first  hearing.  I  think  I  acted  rightly  by  her.  If  I  had 
it  to  do  over  again,  I  don't  see  how  else  I  could  honourably  behave ; 
perhaps  it  was  weak  to  make  her  a  promise  of  concealment,  but 
she  was  so  unhappy,  her  proud  spirit  was  so  utterly  crushed  and 
broken  down,  that  I  would  have  done  anything,  not  actually  wrong, 
to  console  her." 

He  paused,  reseated  himself,  then  resumed  more  quietly,  "  Perhaps 
it  as  well  that  scoimdi-el  D'Almayne  is  not  within  reach :  if  I  were 


316  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

to  lioi'sewhip  him,  as  I  most  assuredly  should  and  would,  I  suppose  I 

should  be  forced  to  meet  liim,  blackguard  as  he  is,  if  he  were  to 

challenge  me ;  and  he  would  do  so,  I  dare  say,  though  I  know  him  to 

be  a  coward  at  heart,  for  his  social  position  is  his  livelihood,  and  he 

niust  maintain  that,  or  stai've.    I  utterly  abhor  duelling — it's  so  very 

like  deliberate  murder ;  it  was  different  in  the  old  days,  when  men 

wore  swords  habitually ;  then,  a  couple  of  fellows  quan-elled  and 

tilted  at  each  other  across  the  dining-table,  while  their  blood  was  up, 

and  a  flesh  wound  or  two  generally  let  off  their  superfluous  energy, 

and  cured  their  complaint — it  was  little  more  than  knocking  a  man 

down  who  has  insulted  you.     There  was  none  of  that  waiting,  and 

then  coolly,  calmly,  taking  the  life  of  a  fellow-creatm-e  in  cold  blood, 

which  is  the  disgusting  pai-t  of  the  modem  duel.    And  now  about 

little    Alfred.    Poor   boy,  he    has    been    sadly    led    away  by  that 

scoundrel,  but  his  heart  is  in  the  right  place  still ;  that  is  a  very  nice 

letter  of  his  to  my  wife,  and  I'm  glad  he  wi-ote  it,  though  it  has 

caused  me  some  trouble  and  annoyance.    Well,  I'll  call  on  him,  and 

tell  him  I  did  him  injustice,  and  then  go  down  to  the  Park  by  the 

next  train,  to  comfort  my  darling  Alice.    By  Jove,  I  feel  quite  a 

different  man  since  I  read  that  letter — Harry's  himself  again."    And 

in  proof  of  his  assertion,  he  began,  for  the  first  time  for  many  weeks, 

to  whistle  his  f  avoui'ite  air — 

"  A  southerlj'  wind,  and  a  cloudy  sky, 
Proclaim  it  a  hunting  morning." 

Another  ten  minutes,  and  a  hansom  cab  sufiiced  to  take  him  to 
Lord  Alfred's  lodgings. 


CHAPTER  LIII. 

AFTER   THE   MANNER   OF   "  BELL'S   LIFE." 

"  I  DARE  say  the  lazy  young  dog  isn't  up  yet,"  was  Coverdale's 
mental  comment,  as  he  knocked  at  the  door  of  Lord  Alfred  Court- 
land's  lodgings.  Although,  as  a  general  iiile,  the  idea  might  not  be 
a  mistaken  one,  yet  this  particular  occasion  was  evidently  an  excep- 
tion, for,  on  entering  Lord  Alfred's  sitting-room,  Coverdale  found 
that  young  gentleman  most  elaborately  got  up  in  an  xmimpeachable 
spoi-ting  costume,  but  sitting  with  an  open  letter  and  his  betting- 
book  before  him,  looking  the  picture  of  despair.  As  Coverdale 
entered,  he  glanced  upward  with  a  slight  start ;  then,  without  waiting 
to  be  spoken  to,  he  exclaimed,  in  a  strange  reckless  tone,  as  different 
from  his  usual  manner  as  a  tempest  from  a  zephyr,  "  Well !  which  is 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  317 

it  to  be  ?  peace  or  war  ?  either  will  suit  me,  thougfh  I  should  rather 
prefer  the  latter ;  about  the  best  thing  that  can  happen  to  me  would 
be  for  you  to  put  a  bullet  through  my  head ;  at  all  events,  it  would 
save  me  the  trouble  of  blowing  my  own  brains  out,  for  I  expect  that 
is  what  it  will  come  to  before  long." 

"Nonsense!"  was  the  reply.  "What  do  you  mean  by  talking 
such  childish  rubbish  ?  what  is  the  matter  with  you,  man  ?  " 

"  First  answer  my  question,  and  let  me  know  whether  I  am  speaking 
to  a  friend  or  a  foe,"  rejoined  Lord  Alfred. 

"  A  friend,  as  I  always  have  been,  and  always  will  be,  to  you,  as 
long  as  you  deserve  an  honest  man's  friendship,"  returned  Coverdale 
heartily.  "  Alice  has  sent  me  your  letter,  and  it  does  you  great 
credit ;  but  I  always  knew  you  had  a  good  heart ;  so,  for  any  trouble 
or  annoyance  you  have  caused  me,  I  freely  forgive  you,  and  I'll 
answer  for  it  Alice  does  the  same ;  and  I  don't  know  that  you  may 
not  have  taught  her  a  lesson  which  may  be  very  useful  to  her  in  after 
life.  She  was  young  and  giddy,  and  pleased  with  admiration  and 
gaiety ;  and  this  has  shown  her  the  danger  and  folly  of  such  frivolous 
pursuits  as  these  tastes  lead  to." 

As  he  spoke,  he  held  out  his  hand ;  Lord  Alfred  seized  and  shook 
it  warmly. 

"  My  dear  Coverdale,"  he  said,  "you  have  made  me  happier,  or  I 
might  more  truly  say,  less  miserable,  than  five  minutes  ago  I  would 
have  believed  it  possible  for  anything  to  do  ;  it  was  not  your  anger, 
or  its  consequences,  I  dreaded ;  but  the  truth  is,  I  always  had  the 
greatest  regard  and  respect  for  you — I  was  proud  of  your  friendship 
— and  the  idea  that,  by  my  faults,  I  had  forfeited  it,  lowered  me  in 
my  own  estimation  and  was  a  source  of  continued  uneasiness  and 
regret  to  me.  Tou  thought  I  was  talking  exaggerated  nonsense  just 
now,  but  I  assure  yoii  when  you  came  into  this  room  five  minutes 
ago,  I  was  thoroughly  reckless ;  just  in  the  frame  of  mind  in  which 
men  commit  suicide,  or  any  other  act  of  wicked  folly." 

Coverdale,  though  he  by  no  means  comprehended  the  "  situation  " 
(as  it  is  now  the  fashion  to  term  all  possible  combination  of  events), 
yet  perceived  that  his  companion  was  thoroughly  in  earnest,  and 
required  sympathy  and  assistance ;  so  he  evinced  the  first  by  getting 
up  and  laying  his  hand  encouragingly  on  Lord  Alfred's  shoulder, 
while  he  offered  the  latter  in  the  following  words :  "  What  is  it,  my 
boy  ?  anything  that  I  can  help  you  in  ?  " 

"  If  anybody  can,  you  are  the  very  man,"  replied  Lord  Alfred,  as 
he  eagerly  gi-asped  his  friend's  hand ;  "  but  really,"  he  continued, 
Avhile  the  tears  that  sparkled  in  his  clear  blue  eyes  proved  his 
sincei'ity,  "really,  I  don't  know  how  to  thank  you  for  all  your 
kindness,  when  I  have  deserved  so  differently  at  your  hands  too ; 
but  you  always  were  the  most  generous,  best-hearted " 

"  There !  that  will  do,  you  foolish  boy,"  interrupted  Coverdale, 
who,  like  all  simple  truthful  characters,  felt  uncomfortable  at  hearing 
his  own  praises ;  "  we'll  take  it  for  granted  that  I'm  no  end  of  a  fine 


318  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

fellow,  and  proceed  to  learn  what  particular  scrape  your  wisdom  has 
failed  to  keep  you  out  of." 

"  Scrape,  you  may  call  it,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  partly  through  my  own 
folly,  partly  tbrouf?h  the  rascality  of  others,  I  am  almost  certain  to 
lose  a  couple  of  thousand  pounds  on  a  steeple-chase,  for  which  I've 
been  idiot  enough  to  enter  a  horse,  and  where  to  lay  my  hands  on  as 
many  hundreds  is  more  than  I  know.  I  shall  not  be  able  to  meet 
my  engagements,  and  shall  be  stigmatized  as  a  blackleg  and  a 
swindler,  at  the  very  time  when  it  is  through  the  villainy  of  blacklegs 
and  swindlers  that  I  shall  be  placed  in  such  a  position  !  " 

"  Can't  your  father  ?  "  began  Coverdale. 

"  If  you  don't  wish  to  render  me  frantic,  don't  mention  my  father," 
was  the  unexpected  rejoinder ;  he  paused,  then  resumed — "  Cover- 
dale,  I  will  not  trust  you  by  halves.  I  know  you  will  hold  my  confidence 
sacred.  My  father  is  most  kind  and  liberal  to  me,  more  liberal  almost 
than  he  should  be,  for  he  is  not  a  rich  man,  and  has  many  calls  upon 
him,  and  this  year  I  know  he  has  met  with  severe  losses.  I  had  an 
allowance  on  which  I  could  have  lived  well,  and  as  becomes  my  rank, 
but  Horace  D'Almajme,  under  pi-etence  of  showing  me  life,  took  me 
to  a  gaming-house,  I  acquired  a  taste  for  play,  or  rather  I  played, 
because  I  thought  it  the  '  correct  thing ; '  and  I  am  now  not  only 
without  money,  but  actually  in  debt.  Then  came  this  horse 
business," — here  Lord  Alfred  gave  Coverdale  a  succinct  account  of 
the  various  particulars  of  the  affairs  with  which  the  reader  has  been 
already  made  acquainted.  "  I  felt,  up  to  this  morning,"  he  resumed, 
"tolerably  confident  of  success,  relying  chiefly  on  Tin-ett's  riding, 
which  is  said  to  be  first-rate ;  imagine,  then,  my  rage  and  disgust 
when  half  an  hour  ago  this  was  given  me ! " — As  he  spoke,  he  handed 
Coverdale  the  following  note  :— 

"  I  am  soiTy  to  inform  your  lordship  that  circumstances  over  which 
I  have  no  control  oblige  me  to  decline  the  honoui-  of  riding  Don 
Pasquale  for  you  to-day. 

"  I  am, 
"  Your  Lordship's  obedient  servant, 
"Philip  Tirrett." 

"  Pleasant  and  encouraging,  certainly,"  observed  Coverdale,  when 
he  had  finished  reading  the  note. 

"  That  fellow  Tirrett  is  the  greatest  scoundrel  unhung ! "  exclaimed 
Lord  Alfred,  crushing  the  paper  in  his  hand  with  an  action  sugges- 
tive of  his  willingness  to  perform  a  similar  process  of  annihilation 
upon  its  writer. 

"  By  no  means,"  returned  Han-y  cooUy ;  "  he  is  simply  a  very 
avex-age  specimen  of  his  class,  half -jockey,  half- dealer,  and  whole 
blackleg  of  a  low  stamp — there  are  hundreds  such  on  the  turf; 
however,  he  seems  to  have  got  you  into  an  awful  fix  this  time — we 
must  try  and  find  out  what  can  be  done.    I'll  stay  and  see  you  through 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAIME  OF  IT  319 

it  at  all  events ;  it's  fortunate  to-day  is  tlie  day,  for  I  could  not  have 
remamedbeyond;  Idaresayl  shall  be  back  in  time  to  catch  the 
eight  o  clock  train,  and  I  shall  then  be  at  home  by  eleven.  What 
time  do  you  start,  and  how  do  you  get  down  P  " 

T'lw^  r  '^""'''  "^"^  ^  ^'■''^  '^^'''^  ^^""^^^  *^®  Pandemonium  at  twelve 
1 11  take  care  to  keep  a  seat  for  you,  if  you  really  are  kind  enough  to 
go  with  me.  I  am  really  quite  ashamed  to  avail  myself  of  your 
kindness,  when  I  know  how  anxious  you  must  be  to  get  back  and 
calm  Mrs.  Coverdale's  fears;  but  I  feel  your  presence  and  your 
knowledge  of  the  right  way  in  which  to  deal  with  these  people  will  be 
so  invaluable  to  me  that  I  have  not  sufficient  self-denial  to  denrive 
myself  of  them."  ^ 

.<  t!  ^^  ^^^'^^^  ■  *^^^'*  ^^^^  ^°®  speeches  about  it,"  rejoined  Han-y 
I  ve  one  or  two  places  to  call  at,  and  I'll  meet  you  at  the  Frying 
Pan,  as  they  call  that  diabolically  named  club  of  yours,  five  minutes 
before  twelve;  and,  above  aU,  don't  look  so  woe-begone,  or  you'll 
have  the  odds  against  Don  Pasquale  increased  to  a  frightful  degree  • 
Piit  on  a  cool  nonchalant  air,  like  your  precious  friend  and  adviser' 
D  Almayne,  who  may  thank  his  stars  that  the  German  Ocean  lies 
between  him  and  me  just  now,  for  I'd  have  horsewhipped  him   as 
sure  as  I  stand  here,  so  that  he  should  have  spent  the  next  fortnight 
m  his  bed  at  all  events,  and  it  would  have  been  a  mercy  if  I  hadn't 
broken  some  of  his  bones  for  him ;  but  I'm  glad  he's  away,  for,  after 
all,  I  suppose  one  has  no  right  to  take  the  law  into  one's  own  hands 
Well  I  must  be  off,  but  depend  upon  my  meeting  you,  and  in  the 
meantime  look  alive,  and  don't  sit  poring  over  that  stupid  betting- 
book  ;  you  re  in  a  mess,  that  I  don't  deny,  but  that  is  no  reason  why 
you  should  lose  heart ;  on  the  contrary,  you'll  have  need  of  aU  your 
pluck  to  get  you  through  it.    Never  despond,  man  !  when  things  come 
to  the  worst,  they're  sure  to  mend.    Look  at  me:  since  I  received 
that  letter  from  my  little  wife,  and  read  your  notable  composition 
Im  a  different  creature."    So  saying,  Coverdale  resumed  his  hat' 
and  was  about  to  quit  the  room,  when  glancing  at  his  companion's 
countenance  he  suddenly  stopped. 

"  Alfred,  my  poor  boy,"  he  said  kindly,  "  I  cau't  leave  you  with  such 
a  face  as  that !  hsten  to  me,  I'll  do  all  I  can  for  you  to  get  you  out 
ot  this  scrape  to-day,  and  very  likely  things  may  tum  out  better  than 
we  expect;  but  if  the  worst  comes  to  the  worst,  you  have  only  to 
proniise  me  two  things,  viz.  to  give  up  your  intimacy  with  Horace 
D  Almayne  and  not  to  enter  a  gambling-house  again  for  the  next 
ten  years  ;  and  whatever  money  you  require  shall  be  placed  in  your 
banker  s  hands  before  settling-day." 

As  he  spoke,  Lord  Alfred  grasped  his  hand,  endeavoured  to  falter 
torth  a  few  words  of  gratitude,  but,  utterly  breaking  down  in  the 
attempt,  burst  into  tears. 

Harry,  neariy  as  much  affected  at  the  sight  of  his  friend's  emotion 
muttered,  "  Pshaw !  there's  nothing  to  make  a  fuss  about,"  wruncr' 
his  hand  cordially,  and  hastily  quitted  the  room. 


820  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

At  ten  minutes  to  twelve  a  well-appointed  drag,  with  four  slapping 
greys,  excited  tlie  admiration  of  street  boys  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Pandemonium,  by  drawing  up  at  the  door  of  that  fastest  of  clubs, 
and  five  minutes  later,  Harry  Coverdale,  habited  in  a  loose  dust- 
coloured  wrapper,  made  his  appearance,  and  tossing  a  small  carpet- 
bag to  one  of  the  grooms,  desired  him  to  put  it  in  the  boot.  Lord 
Alfi'ed  was  eagerly  waiting  to  receive  him,  and  introduced  him 
to  sundry  noble  sportsmen,  or  men  desiring  so  to  be  considered, 
who  were  to  compose  the  live  freight  of  the  drag ;  one  or  two  of  them 
wei'e  old  acquaintances  of  Coverdale's,  amongst  them  being  the 
facetious  Jack  Beaupeep,  who  appeared  in  his  usual  channing  spii-its, 
and  took  an  early  opportunity  of  informing  Coverdale,  in  the  stnctesfc 
confidence,  that  a  certain  yoimg  man,  with  pale  and  swollen  features, 
who,  he  declared,  lived  only  to  play  on  the  cornopean,  might  be  ex- 
pected to  produce  new  and  startling  effects  upon  his  next  perform- 
ance, he  (Jack  Beaupeep)  having  already  contrived  to  insinuate 
percussion  crackers  into  all  three  valves  of  his  victim's  instrument. 
One  minute  before  twelve  a  taU,  good-looking  man,  attired  in  a  white 
hat  and  a  wonderful  driving  cape,  whose  Chi-istian  name  was 
William,  and  his  patronymic  Ban-ington,  but  who,  from  his  passion 
for  di-iving,  was  more  commonly  knowTi  by  the  sobriquet  Billy 
Whipcord,  descended  the  steps  of  the  Pandemonium,  and,  arranging 
the  reins  scientifically  between  his  fingers,  mounted  the  box  and 
assumed  his  seat,  at  the  same  time,  not  taking,  but  bestowing,  the 
oaths  for  the  benefit  of  an  obtuse  helper,  who  had  "  presumed  to 
buckle  the  off  leader's  billet  in  the  check,  instead  of  the  lower  bar, 

when  he  knew  the  mare  pulled  like "  well,  suppose  we  say,  "  like 

a  steam-engine  !  "  As  the  first  stroke  of  twelve  pealed  from  the  high 
church  steeple  of  St.  Homonovus,  which,  as  everybody  knows,  stands 
exactly  opposite  the  Pandemonium,  the  afoi'esaid  Billy  Whipcord 
obligingly  made  his  team  a  present  of  their  respective  heads,  the 
attendant  helpers  seized  the  comers  of  the  horsecloths  which  had 
hitherto  guarded  their  thorough-bred  loins  from  whatever  may  be 
the  eqiiine  equivalent  for  lumbago,  and  jerked  them  off  with  a 
degree  of  energy  which  threatened  to  take  hide  and  all  together, 
\vith  a  boimd  and  a  plunge  the  denuded  quadrupeds  sprang  for- 
ward, the  boys  cheered,  the  club  sei^A^ants  perforaied  pantomimic 
actions,  indicative  of  admiration  and  respect,  and  the  di-ag 
started. 

Monsieur  de  Saulcy,  Mr.  Kinglake,  and  other  travellers,  French, 
English,  and  American,  who  take  pleasure  in  going  to  the  East  to 
make  mistakes  about  the  site  of  Sodom  and  GomoiTah,  hazard  a  futile 
hypothesis  in  regard  to  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  or,  in  some  similar 
fashion,  exert  themselves  to  prove  that  other  than  wise  men  come 
from  the  West  in  these  latter  days,  inform  us  that  when  a  camel 
dies,  vultures  and  other  strange  fowl  suddenly  congregate  around 
the  body,  though  in  what  way  the  intelligence  (for  those  birds  can 
have  no  "  Bell's  Life")  reaches  them  is  a  point  on  which  no  savant 


H-  .\ 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  321 

has  yet  been  found  wise  enough  to  enlighten  us— wherefore,  in 
general  terms,  the  fact  is  stated  to  result  from  instinct.  By  a  like 
nstinct  do  strange  creatures  mysteriously  appear  on  the  face  of  the 
earth,  when  a  steeple-chase,  or  other  sporting  event,  is  an-anged  to 
come  off  in  any  given  locality:  human  vultures,  hawks,  carrion- 
crows,  bats,  and  owls,  all  (singular  as  an  ornithologist  may  deem  it) 
with  veiy  black  legs,  attracted  by  the  fascinations  of  horse-flesh, 
assemble  from  the  four  quarters  of — heaven,  we  were  going  to  say, 
but  on  second  thoughts,  we  cannot  so  conclude  the  paragraph.  Still, 
from  whatever  locality  they  come,  come  they  do  in  flocks,  and  gather 
at  certain  points,  whence  they  may  witness  the  stai-t,  or  "  the  jump 
into  the  lane,"  or  "  crossing  the  brook,"  or  the  "  awkward  place," 
over  which  the  horse  that  leaps,  tumbles,  or  scrambles  first,  is  safe  to 
win,  as  their  various  tastes  may  lead  them. 

There  is  one  feature  in  these  affairs,  for  which  we  have  never  been 
able  to  account,  viz.,  the  mystex-ious  presence  of  a  certain  average 
amount  of  babies ;  they  invariably  arrived  in  taxed  carts,  and  entirely 
engi'oss  the  mental  and  bodily  faculties  of  one  mother  and  one  female 
and  sympathetic  friend  each,  so  that  every  ten  babies  necessitate  the 
presence  of  twenty  women,  who,  from  the  moment  they  set  out,  to 
the  time  at  which  they  return,  never  appear  conscious  of  the  race- 
course, the  company,  the  jockeys,  the  horses,  or  indeed,  of  anything 
save  their  infant  tyrants.    That  these  women  can  have  brought  the 
babies  for  their  own  pleasiu'e,  is  an  hypothesis  so  absurd,  that  no  one 
who  had  seen  the  goings  on  of  these  young  Pickles  towards  their 
parents  and  guardians,   can  for  a  moment  entertain  it ;  a  more, 
perhaps,  the  most  probable  one  is,  that  the  infants  come  to  please 
themselves,  for,  although  we  have  never  observed  that  they  pay  much 
attention  to  the  strict  business  of  the  race,  yet,  in  their  own  way, 
they  appear  to  enjoy  themselves  very  thoroughly.    Their  manners 
and  customs  are  marked  by  an  easy  conviviality,  and  absence  from 
the  restraints  which  usually  fetter  society,  which  we  can  conceive 
must  render  their  babyhood  one  epicurean  scene  of  gay  delight. 
Thus,  monopolizing  the  best  place  in  the  cai't,  shaded  by  the  family 
umbrella,  and  dressed  in  the  latest  fashion  from  Lilliput,  these  young 
Sybarites  recline  languidly  on  the  maternal  bosom,  or  sit  erect, 
"mooing,"  crowing,  and  "  wa-wa-ing"  in  the  faces  of  the  company 
generally,  roaring  at  the  sight  of  family  friends  whose  acquaintance 
they  do  not  desire  to  cultivate,  or  clawing  at  the  eyes  and  hair  of 
the  select  few  whose  homage  they  are  willing  graciously  to  receive. 
Then,  wildly  reckless  of  appearances,  and  consulting  only  their  own 
ungoveiTied  appetites,  they  not  only  resolve  to  dine  in  public  at  the 
maternal  expense,  but  when  their  desire  has  been  gratified  by  their 
self-sacrificing  parents,  betray  a  thankless  indifference  to  the  safe 
custody  of  the  good  things  afforded  them,  which  renders  their  vicinity 
dangerous  to  all  decently-attired  Christians  (those  only  excepted, 
who  consider  a  "  milky  way "  the  way  in  which  they  should  go), 
during  the  remainder  of  the  festivities.    Thus   (we  say  it  boldly, 

Y 


322  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

thou{?h  we  know  we  are  provoking  the  enmity  of  all  our  female 
readers,  who  consider  a  darling  baby  can  never  be  "  de  trop  "),  we 
hereby  declare  our  opinion,  that  by  the  laws  of  the  Jockey  Club,  all 
dogs  and  infants  found  unmuzzled  on  any  race-course,  should  be 

seized  by  the  police,  and  instantly we  leave  the  minds'  eyes  of 

the  anxious  mothei'S  of  England  to  supply  the  blank.  But  we  are 
slightly  digressing. 

As  they  reached  the  field  whence  the  start  was  to  take  place, 
in  which  a  booth  or  two  and  a  very  mild  specimen  of  a  grand  stand 
had  been  erected,  Harry  found  an  opportunity  to  whisper  to  Lord 
Alfred,— 

"  Now,  remember  what  I  told  you ;  appear  as  cool  as  if  you  hadn't 
sixpence  depending  on  this  race  ;  if  long  odds  are  offered  against  the 
horse,  take  'em ;  I'll  stand  the  risk  up  to  a  fifty-pounder ;  if  it  has 
transpired  that  Tirrett  won't  ride  for  you.  say  quietly  that  you  are 
provided  with  an  efficient  substitute — as  soon  as  I  see  clearly  how 
the  land  lies,  I'll  tell  you  more." 

Lord  Alfred  looked— as  he  was— singularly  puzzled,  but  of  the 
hundreds  who  were  flocking  to  that  race-course,  Coverdale  was  the 
only  man  on  whom  he  felt  he  could  rely,  and  he  most  willingly  placed 
himself  in  his  hands. 

Having  insinuated  the  di-ag  into  the  most  favourable  position  for 
beholding  from  its  roof  the  line  of  the  course,  the  Hon.  Billy  Whip- 
cord, having  acquitted  himself  so  as  to  call  forth  an  encomium 
even  from  Hany  Coverdale,  who  was  a  severe  critic  in  such 
matters,  descended  fi'om  his  seat,  and,  with  most  of  the  others, 
repaired  to  an  extempore  betting-ring,  composed  of  aU  the  knowing 
ones  present. 

Lord  Alfred  was  about  to  accompany  them,  when  Harry  laid  his 
finger  on  his  arm  to  detain  him. 

"  What  time  did  you  order  the  Don  to  be  on  the  ground  ?  " 

Lord  Alfred  referred  to  his  watch. 

"  He  won't  be  here  for  the  next  half-houi-,"  was  the  reply.  "  It  was 
considered  advisable  to  spare  his  excitable  nerves  as  much  of  the 
noise  and  bustle  as  possible." 

"  He  is  at  a  farm  somewhere  near,  is  he  not  ?  "  continued  Coverdale. 
'*  I  see  your  saddle-horses  on  the  ground ;  let  us  canter  down  and 
have  a  look  at  him." 

Lord  Alfred  agreeing,  at  a  signal  from  his  master  the  pad-gi-oom 
rode  up,  and  resigning  his  horse  to  Coverdale,  the  friends  mounted, 
and  were  aboiit  to  ride  off  in  the  direction  of  the  farmhouse,  when 
the  Honourable  Billy  Whipcord  intercepted  them  with  a  face 
expressing  the  deepest  concern, 

"  My  dear  Courtland,"  he  began,  "  a  report  has  somehow  got  abroad 
that  Tirrett  won't  ride  for  you,  and  that  Irish  blackguard.  Captain 
O'Brien,  does  not  scruple  openly  to  declare  that  he  is  to  ride 
Broth-of-a-Boy  for  him  instead ;  the  rumour  gains  ground  every 
minute,  and  the  Don  is  going  down  accordingly ;  all  his  best  friends 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  323 

ave  hedging  wherever  they  can  get  a  bet  taken.    I  hope  there's  no 
truth  in  it." 

Coverdale  glanced  for  a  moment  towards  Lord  Alfred,  who  replied 
carelessly,  "  Don't  alarm  yourself,  my  dear  fellow,  I  can  hardly 
suppose  even  Phil  Tirrett  would  have  the  face  to  throw  me  over  and 
ride  for  O'Brien  ;  but,  if  he  should  indulge  in  such  a  caprice,  I  know 
my  man,  and  am  prepared  with  a  substitute  so  efficient,  that  I  rather 
hope  your  tidings  may  be  tnie."  Seeing  that  the  Honourable 
William  looked  incredulovis,  he  continued,  "  If  you're  inclined  to 
follow  the  hedging  dodge  yourself,  I'm  as  willing  as  ever  to  back  the 
Don  against  the  field  :  how  do  the  odds  stand  ?  " 

Reassured  by  this  practical  proof  of  his  Lordship's  sincerity,  the 
Honourable  William  (who,  in  spite  of  his  innate  honourableness,  was 
rather  a  "leg"  than  othei-wise),  hastily  muttered  "that  he'd  a  very 
safe  book  as  it  stood,  and  that  if  the  Don  was  all  serene,  he  had  no 
wish  to  alter  it,"  and  returned  to  reap  some  advantage  from  the 
information  he  had  acquired. 
"  How  did  I  do  that  ?  "  asked  Lord  Alfred,  as  they  cantered  off. 
"  Splendidly !  "  was  the  reply ;  "  when  all  other  trades  fail  you, 
you'll  be  able,  with  a  little  of  my  able  tuition,  to  turn  horse-chaunter 
and  blackleg." 

Loi'd  Alfred  shook  his  head,  adding,  "  Only  let  me  get  out  of  this 
affair  safely,  and  if  you  find  me  doing  anything  in  the  horse  line 
again,  write  me  down  the  veriest  idiot  that  ever  ran  his  head,  open- 
eyed,  against  a  brick  wall." 

Five  minutes'  brisk  riding  brought  them  to  the  gate  at  which 
Tin-ett  had  entered  on  the  moraing  after  the  Blackwall  dinner- 
party. As  they  did  so,  a  horseman  left  the  yard  by  a  hand-gate  at 
the  opposite  comer.  Lord  Alfred  gazed  after  him  eagerly. 
"  Who  is  your  mysterious  friend  ?  "  inquired  Hariy. 
"  I  can't  be  cei-tain,"  was  the  reply,  "  but  the  figiu'e,  and  the 
way  in  which  he  sits  his  horse,  are  very  like  that  young  scoundrel 
TiiTctt;  I've  a  great  mind  to  gallop  after  him,  and  either  make  him 
ride  for  me,  or  horsewhip  him ; "  and  Lord  Alfred  looked  quite 
fierce  and  determined,  as  if  he  meant  to  do  as  he  said,  and  was  able  ; 
but  Coverdale,  smiling  at  his  energy,  restrained  him. 

"  Gently  there — take  it  coolly !  why,  you're  becoming  quite  a 
fire-eater,"  he  said,  laughing ;  "  but,  seriously,  if  you  could  make 
him  ride  for  you  against  his  will,  he  would  only  contrive  to  lose 
you  the  race.  And,  as  to  horsewhipping,  if  you  were  to  horsewhip 
every  blackleg  who  breaks  down  with  you  in  tui-f  affairs,  you'd 
require  a  portable  thrashing-machine,  for  mortal  arm  could  never 
stand  it." 

As  he  spoke,  they  reached  the  stable,  dismounted,  and,  tying 
their  horses  up  to  a  couple  of  rings  in  the  wall.  Lord  Alfred  drew  a 
key  from  his  pocket,  and,  applying  it  to  the  lock,  admitted  Harry 
and  himself.  So  quietly  did  they  enter,  and  so  engrossed  was  the 
groom  with  his  occupation,  that  they  had  full  time  to  observe  him 


324  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

before  lie  was  aware  of  their  presence.  Fully  equipped  (with 
the  exception  of  his  coat)  for  appearinof  on  the  race-course,  he 
was  stooping  over  a  pail  of  water  bathing  his  nose,  from  which  the 
blood  was  still  rapidly  dropping.  Coverdale  glanced  expressively 
at  Lord  Alfred,  then  whispered,  "  Speak  to  him — I  want  to  see  his 
face." 

"  Why,  Dick,  what  is  it  ?  have  you  hurt  yourself,  my  lad  ? "  he 
inquired,  good-naturedly. 

Raising  himself,  with  a  start,  the  man  looked  round.  "  No,  my 
Lord,  it  is  no  thin'  to  sinnify  ;  honly,  has  I  wos  a  reching  hup  to  get 
the  Don's  saddle,  hit  slipped,  hand  fell  right  hon  my  blessed  nose, 
hand  set  hit  a  bleeding  howdacious  !  " 

"  Did  you  obtain  that  genius,  with  the  horse,  from  Tii-rett  ? " 
inquired  Harry,  "  sotto  voce  " ;  receiving  a  reply  in  the  affirmative,  he 
continued,  "  Then  led  me  have  a  word  or  two  with  him  in  private— 
I  think  he  may  be  made  useful,  but  one  never  can  get  anything  out 
of  these  fellows,  except  in  a  tete-a-tete." 

Lord  Alfred  nodded  assent,  and,  feigning  some  plausible  excuse, 
left  the  stable. 

As  soon  as  they  were  alone,  Harry  addressed  the  groom  with  an 
intelligent  half-nod,  half-wink,  which,  however  ineffectual  it  might 
have  proved  in  the  case  of  a  blind  horse,  produced  a  decided 
impression  on  the  shai-p-sighted  Dick. 

'"  Hark  ye,  my  friend,"  he  began,  "  it  strikes  me  you  and  I  are  old 
acquaintances." 

"  Can't  say  as  I  ever  remembers  setting  heyes  on  your  honour 
afore,"  was  the  reply,  though  something  in  the  expression  of  the 
man's  face  contradicted  his  assertion. 

"  Did  you  never  live  with  Count  Cavalho,  a  Spanish  nobleman  ?  " 

The  man  i^aused,  then  answered  in  a  surly  tone,  "  And  suppose  I 
did,  what  then  ?  " 

"  Merely,  that  while  I  was  in  Paris,  a  gi-oom  in  his  employ  was 
detected  selling  the  corn  and  hay ;  the  moment  the  charge  was 
brought  against  him  the  fellow  decamped,  but  the  evidence  of  his 
dishonesty  was  so  clear,  that  the  Count  offered  a  reward  of  fifty 
pounds  for  his  apprehension;  the  man  was  not  found,  but  I  should 
know  him  by  sight  if  I  were  to  meet  him,"  and  again  Coverdale  fixed 
his  piercing  glance  upon  his  companion's  features. 

Having  paused  for  a  minute,  during  which  time  the  groom  stood 
eyeing  him  furtively,  and  shifting  uneasily  from  leg  to  leg — at  the 
expiration  of  that  period,  HaiTy  asked  abruptly,  "  Why  did  young 
TiiTctt  strike  you  in  that  brutal  manner,  before  he  left  the  stable 
just  now  ?  " 

He  spoke  at  a  venture,  but  the  arrow  hit  the  bull's-eye.  Thrown 
completely  off  his  guai-d,  the  man  exclaimed,  with  an  oath,  "  You 
know  everything  !  who  in  the  world  are  you  ?  " 

"  My  name's  Coverdale,"  was  the  reply,  "  I'm  no  wizard,  but  I've 
been  on  the  turf  long  enough  to  keep  my  eyes  and  ears  open ;  and 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  825 

now  listen  to  me  ;  yon  know  all  I've  said  is  true,  you  perceive  that  I 
could  expose  you  if  I  were  so  inclined  ;  you  have  no  cause  to  enter- 
tain any  very  strong  affection  for  Mr.  Philip  Tirrett ;  therefore  I  see 
many  reasons  why  you  should  do  as  I  wish  you — none  why  you 
should  not." 

He  paused  for  a  reply,  and,  after  a  moment's  hesitation,  the  groom 
began,  "  I  see  it  ain't  o'  no  use  trying  to  gammon  you,  Mr.  Coverdale, 
you're  right  about  Tirrett,  he  cum  here  a  wantin'  me  to  lame  that 
horse,  and  so  git  myself  into  trouble,  may  be ;  when,  as  I  told  him, 
there  ain't  no  need  for  it,  for  he  ain't  agoing  to  ride  it,  and  barrin 
myself  and  him,  there  ain't  nobody  else  as  can  i-ide  it  to  win,  I'll  take 
my  davy  o'  that,  so  he'd  no  call  to  cut  up  rough,  and  knock  a  feller 
about  like  that — but  I  owe  him  one  for  it,  and  I'll  pay  it  some  of  these 
days.  As  to  that  hay  and  com  business  of  the  Count's,  I  didn't  do 
the  correct  thing  altogether  by  him,  I  know,  but  though  I  had  to  cut, 
and  it  was  all  laid  on  to  me,  there  was  others  more  to  blame  nor  me, 
I  do  assure  you,  I  was  but  a  boy  like  at  the  time,  and  I  wor  led  on, 
don't  ye  see  ?  Still,  it's  true  enough  ;  I  don't  want  the  thing  brought 
up  again.  My  lord  here,  he's  a  nice  young  feller — precious  green, 
tho' !  I  never  did — "  he  added  parenthetically,  with  a  sympathy- 
demanding  wink  at  Coverdale,  "  and  he's  treated  me  very  kind  and 
liberal,  and  so  the  long  and  the  short  of  it  is,  if  I  can  oblige  you,  sir, 
why,  I'm  agreeable." 

"  Well,  you  can  oblige  me,  and  it  shall  be  worth  your  while  to  do 
BO,"  was  the  reply ;  "  and  as  I  see  you've  got  an  honest  side  to  your 
nature,  I'll  be  frank  with  you.  Lord  Alfred  has  trusted  Tirrett  to 
win  this  race  for  hiui,  and  has  betted  very  largely  on  the  faith  of  his 
riding  for  him ;  Tirrett,  being  a  scoundrel,  has  thrown  him  over, 
and  we'i'e  in  a  fix — the  only  way  I  see  of  getting  out  of  it  is  to  ride 
the  horse  myself." 

Here  the  groom  interrupted,  by  audibly  ejaculating,  "  The  Lord 
have  mercy  on  your  poor  neck  !  " 

"  To  ride  the  horse  myself,"  continued  Coverdale,  coolly ;  "  and  I 
want  you  to  tell  me  honestly,  first,  whether  if  the  brute  is  properly 
ridden,  he  has  a  fair  chance  to  win,  and  secondly,  if  you  were  going 
to  ride,  and  try  all  you  knew  to  come  in  first,  how  you  would  set 
about  it." 

For  a  minute,  the  man  remained  mute  with  surprise,  then, 
muttering,  "  Well,  I've  seen  you  ride,  and  you've  a  better  seat,  and 
nearly  as  good  a  bridle-hand  as  Phil  Tirrett  himself ;  but,  lor,  to 
think  of  riding  a  steeple-chase  on  that  beast  the  first  time  you're  on 
his  back !  however,  if  you  will  do  it,  listen  to*  me,"  and,  drawing 
Han-y  aside,  he  whispered  innumerable  hints  and  directions  in  his 
ear,  in  as  low  a  tone  as  if  he  feared  the  very  winds  of  Heaven  would 
reveal  the  matter. 


326  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 


CHAPTER  LIY. 

SETTLING   PRELIMINABIES. 

"  To  keep  a  light  but  steady  hand  on  him ;  to  be  careful  not  to  pull 
at  him  or  check  him  with  the  cm'b ;  but  to  saw  his  mouth  with  the 
snaffle,  if  he  can't  be  held  without ;  never  to  hit  him,  uijon  any 
consideration,  by  reason  that  he'll  stand  the  spur,  but  not  the  whip  ; 
to  be  prepared  for  his  knocking'  my  brains  out  when  he  throws  up  his 
head,  or  breaking  my  back  by  a  way  he's  got  with  his  hind-quarters 
■when  he  flings  up  his  heels  ;  to  look  out  for  his  pleasant  little  trick 
of  jumping  off  the  ground  all  four  feet  at  once  in  a  slantindicular 
direction,  when  anything  sui'prises  him  ;  to  let  him  take  his  leaps  in 
his  own  fasliion,  or  he'll  either  rush  at  them  or  refuse  them 
altogether ;  to  jump  on  his  back  before  he  bites  or  kicks  me,  if  I  can 
possibly  do  so  ;  and,  above  all,  to  show  him,  from  first  to  last,  that 
I'm  not  in  the  slightest  degi'ee  afraid  of  him — I  think  these  are  the 
chief  points  to  which  I  am  advised  to  direct  my  attention  in  riding 
the  fascinating  quadruped  on  whom  you  have  invested  your  capital," 
observed  Coverdale  to  Lord  AKred,  as  they  cantered  back  to  the 
race-ground. 

"  You  shall  not  do  it — yoti  must  not  think  of  it !  "  rejoined  Lord 
Alfred,  hastily ;  "  you'll  be  thrown  and  killed,  and  Mrs.  Coverdale 
Avill  say  it's  my  doing.  I  could  not  bear  it — it  would  drive  me  mad. 
Come,  pi-omise  you'll  give  it  up  !  " 

"  Silly  boy !  "  returaed  Coverdale,  with  a  good-natured  smile  ;  "  tell 
me,  would  you  give  it  up  in  my  position  ?  " 

"  Well,  yes — no,  perhaps  I  should  not ;  but  then  you  know  the  case 
would  be  a  very  different  one." 

"  Certainly  it  would,"  returned  Coverdale  ;  "  I  am  not  the  heir  to 
an  ancient  peerage — the  noble  constitution  of  England  would  not 
suffer  injury  in  one  of  its  three  notable  estates,  if  my  neck  were 
broken;  but  I  don't  see  the  necessity  for  pre-supposing  any  such 
sombre  contingency — this  is  not  the  first  time,  by  many,  that  I've 
galloped  a  queer  horse  across  country.  Why,  man,  from  the  day  I 
was  foiu-teen  I've  broken  all  my  own  hunters,  and  let  me  tell  you,  a 
hot-tempered  four-year-old  thoroughbred  is  rather  an  awkward 
customer  to  deal  with.  A  timid  old  gentleman  would  find  himself 
decidedly  misplaced  astride  such  a  quadruped.  But  here  we  are. 
Now  recollect,  keep  wg  a  bold  exterior,  as  the  melodramatic  gents 
paraphrase  '  never  saying  die.'  Back  the  Don  as  freely  as  if  Tirrett 
was  going  to  ride  for  you,  and  mention  me  as  the  illustrious  gentle- 
man-jockey you  have  secured  as  his  substitute." 

Lord  Alfred  nodded  assent,  and  they  rejoined  the  group  around 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  327 

the  betting-ring',  in  the  centre  o£  which  stood  the  gallant  Milesian, 
Captain  O'Brien,  vociferating  loudly  in  what  he  would  himself  have 
termed  a  thundering  rage.  The  cause  was  soon  discovered :  Mr. 
Philip  Tirrett  had,  five  minutes  before,  made  his  apjjeai'ance  on  the 
covirse,  and  coolly  informed  the  captain  not  only  that  he  was 
mistaken  in  supposing  he  intended  to  ride  for  him,  but  that  he  was 
going  to  perform  the  service  for  Captain  Annesley,  of  Her  Majesty's 
Life  Guards,  t^pon  his  famous  steeple-chaser  Black  Eagle,  which,  in 
his  poor  opinion,  looked  very  like  a  winner.  As  Lord  Alfred  and 
Harry  came  up,  the  Honoiu*able  Billy  Whipcord,  who,  so  to  speak, 
lived  upon  horseflesh,  and  having  a  tolerably  heavy  book  on  the  race, 
was  in  a  great  state  of  agitation  and  excitement,  exclaimed,  "  Here, 
Lord  Alfred,  what  do  you  say  to  all  this  ?  there's  a  squabble  as  to 
who  Mr.  TiiTctt  is  to  ride  for.  I  thought  you'd  settled  with  him 
long  ago,  to  ride  Don  Pasquale  ?  " 

*'  Such  was,  no  doubt,  the  understanding  between  us,"  returned 
Lord  Alfred,  firmly ;  "  nor  had  I  reason  to  suspect  that  he  meant  not 
to  fulfil  his  engagement,  until  I  received  a  note  some  two  hours  ago, 
telling  me  that  circumstances  prevented  him  from  riding  for  me. 
These  circumstances  I  now,  for  the  first  tim.e,  conjecttii'e  to  resolve 
themselves  into  the  fact  that  he  has  been  bribed  by  some  one  to  ride 
for  Captain  Annesley." 

"  Pray,  my  Lord,  do  you  intend  that  remark  to  apply  to  me  ?  " 
inquired  Captain  Annesley,  who  was  a  tall,  handsome,  fashionable- 
looking  man,  with  black  whiskers  and  moustaches. 

"  I  intended  the  remark  to  apply  to  Mr.  Tirrett,"  was  Lord  Alfred's 
reply ;  "  he  had  engaged  to  ride  for  me  ;  I  believe  he  has  been  bribed 
to  break  that  engagement,  because  I  can  imagine  no  other  reason  so 
likely  to  influence  a  person  of  his  character ;  but  it's  a  matter  of 
perfect  indifference  to  me  who  may  have  bribed  him,  and  as  I  am 
fortunate  enough  to  have  secured  the  services  of  a  gentleman  on 
whose  honour  I  can  rely,  as  well  as  upon  his  horsemanship,  I  care 
very  little  about  the  whole  matter,  and  must  leave  you,  gentlemen, 
to  settle  yoiu"  differences  without  my  interference." 

As  he  spoke  he  was  turning  to  leave  the  spot,  when  Tirrett  stepped 
before  him  and  prevented  him. 

"  Not  so  fast,  my  Lord,"  he  said,  insolently ;  "  I  consider  that 
you've  insulted  me  by  the  terms  in  which  you  have  just  spoken,  and 
I  desire  you  to  recall  your  words." 

An  indignant  refusal  from  Lord  Alfred  apparently  exasperated 
the  young  blackleg  beyond  endurance,  and  raising  his  horsewhip 
threateningly,  he  advanced  a  step  towards  his  opponent.  As  he  did 
so,  a  heavy  hand  was  pressed  against  his  chest,  effectually  ban-ing 
his  farther  progress,  while  a  deep  voice  said  sternly,  "  Stand  back, 
sir !  I  should  have  thought  you  had  been  on  the  turf  long  enough 
to  recognize  a  gentleman  when  you  see  him,  and  to  know  that  such 
persons  are  not  to  be  bullied,  though  they  may  be  swindled.  Let 
me  give  you  a  word  of  advice :  you  will  have  quite  enough  on  your 


328  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

hands  to  get  out  of  this  morning's  work  without  some  unpleasant 
expose.  Your  associate,  Captain  O'Biien,  seems  inclined  to  be 
disagreeably  communicative — don't  get  yourself  horsewhipped  into 
the  bargain ! " 

When  Coverdale  made  the  reference  to  O'Brien,  Phil  Tirrett 
turned  pale,  and  gnawed  his  under  lip  in  fruitless  anger ;  but,  as  he 
concluded,  he  got  up  the  steam  sufficiently  to  inquire,  with  an 
insolent  laugh,  "  Horsewhipped,  eh  ? — who's  likely  to  do  it,  I  should 
like  to  know  ?  " 

"I  am,"  was  Ooverdale's  quiet  answer.  Their  eyes  met — but 
Tirrett  could  not  endure  Harry's  steadfast  gaze ;  so  favouring  him 
with  a  most  melodramatic  scowl  of  hatred,  he  slunk  away  through 
the  crowd.  After  much  angry  altercation.  Captain  O'Brien's  horse 
was  withdrawn — other  preliminaries  of  the  race  settled — and  the 
time  appointed  for  starting  drew  nigh,  when  Captain  Annesley 
lounged  up  to  Lord  Alfred  Courtland,  and  twisting  his  moustaches, 
drawled  out,  "  Haw  !  ar'  spose  yur  'ware  m'lord  that — haw — tha're  all 
gentlemen  riders  ? — eh !  yur  friend  comes  imder  that  denomination, 
'spose,  haw  ?  " 

"  When  the  officers  of  the  — th  chose  me  as  umpii-e  about  a  dis- 
puted stroke  at  billiards,  and  I  decided  in  favour  of  one  Cornet 
Annesley,  he  did  not  object  to  the  verdict  on  the  score  of  my  posi- 
tion," retm'ned  Coverdale,  with  quiet  self-possession ;  upon  which  the 
captain  miittered, — 

"  Hey,  haw,  Mr.  Coverdale,  aw  think — arm  sor  davlish  short- 
sighted— ar  reely  didn't  recognize  yar — haw !  beg  par'n,  reely,"  and 
lounged  off  considerably  discomposed. 

After  the  ceremony  of  weighing  the  riders  had  been  satisfactorily 
performed,  and  other  preliminaries  an-anged,  the  bell  rang  for 
saddling,  and  Coverdale,  flinging  off  his  wi-apper,  and  removing  a 
pair  of  leggings  which  had  effectually  concealed  his  top-boots, 
appeared  in  full  and  appropriate  racing  costume,  to  Lord  Alfred's 
intense  surprise. 

"  By  Jove  ! "  he  exclaimed,  as  the  blue  silk  racing  shirt  revealed  its 
glories  to  his  astonished  optics — "  by  Jove !  Coverdale,  you  really 
are  one  of  the  most  wonderfid.  fellows  I  ever  came  aci'oss  ;  why,  you 
were  not  aware  two  hours  ago  that  there  was  a  chance  of  your  being 
required  to  ride  this  race,  and  yet  you  come  togged  out  in  as  noble 
and  appropriate  garments  as  if  you  had  been  preparing  for  the  last 
month — it  is  all  a  perfect  mystery  to  me !  " 

"  The  mystery  is  easily  explained,"  returned  HaiTy,  laughing  at 
his  companion's  puzzled  look.  "  When  I  left  your  rooms  this  morn- 
ing, the  idea  of  riding  for  you  had  already  occm-red  to  me;  it  so 
happened  that  I,  when  last  in  town,  ordered  a  new  pair  of  hunting 
breeches  and  boots  of  my  tailor  and  boot-maker,  which  I  knew  would 
be  ready  for  me  to  jump  into ;  the  tailor  directed  me  to  a  masquerade 
warehouse,  where  I  procured  the  racing  shirt ;  and  I  purchased  the 
wrapper  and  leggings  ready  made.    In  the  cai-pet-bag  I  have  a  coat. 


AND  ALL  THAT^AME  OF  IT  329 

which  I  could  have  put  on  at  the  stables,  had  Tirrett  chosen,  at  the 
last  moment,  to  keep  his  engagement  with  you  :  so  you  see  there's  no 
magic  in  the  business,  after  all." 

As  he  spoke,  Don  Pasquale,  arching  his  neck,  snorting,  laying  back 
his  ears  and  pointing  them  forward  alternately,  rolling  his  eyes  until 
the  whites  were  plainly  visible,  and  altogether  showing  symptoms  of 
a  temperament  quite  unlike  that  popularly  attributed  to  the  genus 
pet  lamb,  was  led  in  by  Dick  and  an  attendant  satellite,  at  the 
imminent  risk  of  their  respective  lives  and  limbs.  As  the  clothing 
was  removed,  Coverdale  scrutinized  him  narrowly  without  speaking  : 
at  length  he  exclaimed — "  He's  a  devil,  that  there's  no  mistaking  ; 
biit  he's  a  sjDlendid  horse :  if  he's  sound,  and  it's  at  all  possible  to 
screw  him  along,  I'll  give  yoii  all  the  money  you  paid  for  him,  and 
fifty  pounds  to  the  back  of  that,  if  you  don't  like  to  part  with  him 
under." 

"  My  dear  Coverdale,  in  that  and  everything  else  I  shall  be  guided 
by  your  wishes,"  was  the  reply.  "  I'd  make  you  a  free  gift  of  him 
and  be  glad  to  get  rid  of  the  brute,  if  it  wasn't  for  the  money  I 
owe." 

At  this  moment,  the  groom  made  a  signal,  to  which  Coverdale 
immediately  attended. 

"  The  longer  he  stays  in  this  here  crowd  and  bustle,  the  wilder 
and  savager  he'll  get,  and  the  worser  he'll  be  to  moimt :  so  the 
sooner  I  sees  yer  honour  in  the  saddle,  the  better  I  shall  be  pleased." 

"  All  serene,  Dick,"  returned  Harry,  cheerfully.  "  Wish  me  luck 
and  keep  yoiu-  spirits  up,  Alfred,  my  boy  ! "  he  continued,  shaking 
his  companion's  hand  heartily :  then  with  a  nod  to  the  gi'oom,  to 
announce  his  intention,  he  approached  the  horse  leisurely,  and 
watching  his  opportunity,  waited  until  something  had  attracted  the 
animal's  notice,  and  caused  it  to  turn  its  head  in  an  opposite  direc- 
tion ;  when  placing  his  foot  quietly  in  the  stirrup,  he  was  firmly 
seated  before  Don  Pasquale  became  aware  of  his  intention,  or  had 
time  to  attempt  any  resistance.  Slowly  gathering  up  the  reins, 
Coverdale  desired  Dick  to  "  give  him  his  head  "  ;  the  first  use  he 
made  of  it  being  to  place  it  between  his  fore  legs  with  a  jerk,  which 
if  his  rider  had  not  judiciously  yielded  to  it,  would  have  pulled  the 
reins  from  his  gi-asp.  But  Don  Pasquale  had  an  object  in  thus  lower- 
ing his  haughty  crest — namely,  at  the  same  time  to  fling  up  his  heels, 
and  eject  the  intruder  who  had  dared  so  unceremoniously  to  usurp 
the  seat  of  dominion  on  his  august  back,  much  as  a  stone  is  hurled 
from  a  sling.  Harry,  however,  being  prepared  foi'  any  eccentricity 
of  motion  on  the  part  of  the  amiable  quadruped  he  bestrode,  retained 
his  seat  in  spite  of  the  Don's  strenuous  efforts  to  dislodge  him ;  a 
performance  which  appeared  to  astonish  and  impress  the  creature  to 
such  a  degree,  that  he  tossed  up  his  head  so  suddenly  as  to  render 
Dick's  caution  in  regard  to  "  knocking  out  brains  "  by  no  means  a 
supei'fluous  figure  of  speech,  and  abruptly  started  off  in  a  kind  of 
half-sidling,  half-dancing  canter.    Having  indulged  the  Don  with  a 


330  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

preliminary  gallop  up  and  down  the  first  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the 
course,  during  which  he  amused  himself  by  occasionally  lashing  out 
in  a  way  which  soon  obtained  for  him  those  popular  desiderata — a 
clear  course  and  no  favour,  Harry  brought  him  back  to  the  starting, 
post  just  as  Phil  Tirrett  appeared,  looking  the  perfection  of  a  jockey, 
and  mounted  on  a  splendid  black  thoroughbred,  which  Coverdale 
conjectm'ed  must  be — from  its  superiority  to  every  other  horse  on  the 
course — Captain  Annesley's  Black  Eagle.  At  this  moment,  Dick, 
the  groom,  handed  Coverdale  a  leaf  of  a  betting-book,  ciaimpled  up 
into  the  fomi  of  a  note  ;  seizing  an  opportunity  when  his  horse  was 
for  an  instant  quiet,  Harry  opened  it,  and  read  the  following  words  : — 

"  Hond.  sur,  Black  hegel's  wery  prity  to  luke  hat,  but  he  han't  got 
the  Don's  pluck,  nor  P.  T.  han't  got  yourn — hin  ther  last  field  but 
won  ther's  a  corner  may  be  cut  hofE  by  taking  a  dich  with  a  low  ston 
warl  hon  the  bank  abuv,  and  a  rail  atop — hits  a  properly  dangerous 
leep,  but  if  oui-  'orse  is  rode  boldly  and  ain't  blowd,  he'll  face  hit  and 
clear  hit,  hand  B.  E.  and  P.  T.  won't. — Yr  humbel  survent,  Dick 
Dodge." 

Hastily  casting  his  eye  over  it,  Harry  caught  the  general  meaning 
of  the  note,  and,  tearing  it,  he  gave  his  confidential  adviser  a  glance 
which  so  clearly  conveyed  his  recognition  of  the  merits  of  his  scheme, 
that  Dick  in  soliloquy  confided  to  himself,  that  he  was  at  that 
moment  open  to  be  "  blowed  "  if  it  was  not  his  conviction  that  if 
Coverdale  could  keep  his  seat  for  the  first  five  minutes,  he  might  do 
the  trick  after  all.  As  Harry  rode  up  to  the  starting-post,  Tin-ett 
perceived,  from  his  firm  but  easy  seat  in  the  saddle,  his  strong  yet 
light  hand  on  the  rein,  restraining  without  irritating  his  horse,  that 
he  had  a  first-rate  rider  to  contend  against ;  and  knowing,  as  no  one 
did  so  well  as  himself,  the  powers  of  the  animal  on  which  Coverdalewas 
mounted,  he,  for  the  first  time  since  he  had  refused  to  ride  for  Lord 
Alfred,  felt  anxious  as  to  the  result  of  the  race,  which,  reckoning  it 
completely  secm-e,  he  had  betted  on  much  more  largely  than  was  his 
habit.  After  relieving  his  feelings  by  a  muttered  volley  of  oaths,  he 
continued  mentally, — 

"  This  is  pleasant :  the  fellow  sits  his  horse  as  composedly  as  if  he 
were  in  an  arm-chair !  he  seems  to  understand  the  temper  of  the 
brute  too !  I  suppose  Dick  has  put  him  up  to  that  in  revenge  for  the 
blow  I  gave  him.  I've  got  a  frightfully  heavy  book  on  the  event — 
nearly  .£1000.  I  was  a  fool  to  risk  it;  and  yet  I  thought  the  money 
was  as  safe  as  if  it  had  been  in  my  pocket.  I  never  expected  the 
horse  would  have  trained  sound  as  he  has ;  if  I'd  been  sure  of  that  I 
would  have  ridden  him  myself.  Well,  the  race  must  be  won  at  all 
hazards ;  if  the  Don  would  but  get  into  one  of  his  tantarums  now, 
nobody  that  didn't  know  his  ways  could  sit  him.  Ha ;  yes,  a  good 
idea ;  I  think  it  may  be  done  that  way — and  yet  it's  hazardous — but 
I  won't  be  rash — only  Black  Eagle  must  not  lose,  whatever  may  be 
the  consequence."  "While  such  thoughts  as  these  were  passing  hur- 
riedly through  his  brain,  the  signal  was  given,  and  the  horses  started. 


^^ZA. 


■\ 


332  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

cling  to  the  creature's  neck  to  prevent  it  from  falling  over  upon  him. 
Then  commenced  a  furious  struggle  for  mastery  between  man  and 
horse.  Tirrett's  cowardly  stroke  had  aroused  the  vicious  temper  of 
the  brute,  and  failing  in  its  first  desperate  attempts  to  unseat  its 
rider,  it  laid  back  its  ears,  planted  its  feet  firmly  on  the  ground,  and 
obstinately  refused  to  move.  Irritated  beyond  control  at  the 
rascally  trick  which  had  been  played  him,  and  at  its  complete 
success,  Coverdale,  with  whip,  spurs,  and  bit,  gave  Don  Pasquale  a 
thorough  specimen  of  his  quiet  manner,  but  with  no  other  result 
than  one  or  two  futile  attempts  to  bite  or  kick  its  rider :  at  length 
he  was  comijelled  to  desist  from  pure  exhaiTstion,  and,  laying  the 
bridle  on  the  animal's  neck,  he  shifted  the  whip  to  his  left  hand, 
while  he  extended  the  cramped  fingers  of  his  right,  preparatory  to 
recommencing  hostilities.  Whether  through  mere  caprice,  or 
whether,  as  is  more  probable,  the  Don  caught  sight  of  the  other 
horses,  which  had  safely  accomplished  the  transit  of  the  brook,  and 
were  resuming  their  course  on  the  other  side,  it  is  not  easy  to  decide ; 
certain  it  is,  however,  that  the  moment  it  found  its  head  at  liberty, 
it  dashed  off  at  full  speed ;  and  before  Harry  could  gather  up  the 
reins,  the  creature  had  reached  the  bank,  phmged  madly  forward, 
and  in  another  moment  Coverdale  found  himself  up  to  the  breast  in 
water,  with  no  part  of  his  horse  visible  except  the  head.  Although 
taken  completely  by  surprise,  his  presence  of  mind  did  not  forsake 
him ;  thanks  to  his  experience  in  the  hunting-field,  the  situation  was 
not  new  to  him,  and  scarcely  had  he  glanced  round  ere  his  quick  eye 
selected  the  point  at  which  he  should  effect  a  landing ;  guiding  his 
horse  to  a  spot  where  the  bank  was  least  steep  and  abrupt,  he  waited 
until  the  animal  obtained  a  precarious  footing  ;  then,  encouraging  it 
by  hand  and  voice,  he  lifted  it  by  the  rein,  and  urged  it  forward ; 
there  was  a  scramble  and  a  slip,  then  a  more  violent  struggle  than 
before,  and  the  Don  and  his  rider  were  once  again  high,  though  by  no 
means  dry,  on  '*  terra  firma."  As  soon  as  he  could  find  time  to  look 
after  his  competitors  in  the  race,  he  became  aware  that  both  had 
cleared  the  brook  in  safety,  and  were  half  across  the  field  beyond, 
Tirrett  some  twenty  yards  ahead, — a  distance  which  he  kept  so 
completely  without  effort,  that  Harry  at  once  perceived  Grey  Robin 
was  beaten.  That  Tirrett  thought  the  same  of  both  his  antagonists 
was  evident,  from  the  easy  pace  at  which  he  was  going.  In  order  to 
accomplish  his  rascally  manoeuvre  before  crossing  the  brook,  he  had 
pressed  Black  Eagle  injudiciously ;  and,  confident  that  both  the 
other  horses  must  be  in  an  equally  exhausted  condition,  he  was 
saving  him  for  the  final  struggle.  He  was,  however,  wrong  in  regard 
to  Don  Pasquale ;  true,  its  contention  with  its  rider  had  taken  for 
the  time  a  good  deal  out  of  it,  but  the  last  act  of  that  affair  having 
consisted  of  a  display  of  passive  obstinacy,  had  in  some  degree 
refreshed  it;  and  its  plunge  into  the  brook  had  also  exercised  a 
beneficial  influence ;  so  that  Harry  perceived,  to  his  great  delight, 
so  eoon  as  they  resumed  their  course  on  the  farther  bank,  that  his 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  333 

horse  had  plenty  of  good  running  still  left  in  it,  and  when  it  got 
again  into  its  stride,  that  it  was  improving  every  minute.  Thus,  if 
Coverdale  could  manage  to  creep  iip  to  his  opponent  so  gi-adually  as 
not  to  alarm  him  until  he  had  regained  a  portion  of  the  gi'ound  he 
had  lost,  and  Dick's  suggestion  of  the  desperate  leap  over  the  wall 
should  prove  at  all  practicable,  he  did  not  despair  of  the  race  yet. 
In  accordance  with  this  view,  Harry  rather  restrained  than  urged 
the  Don,  until  Tirrett  had  cleared  the  next  fence,  and  entered  the 
field  beyond ;  but  the  moment  the  ovei'hanging  brances  of  the  hedge 
closed  behind  him,  Coverdale  gave  his  horse  the  rein,  came  up  with 
Grey  Robin,  who  disputed  precedence  with  him  for  a  few  yards,  and 
then  fell  back  beaten ;  flew  over  the  fence  like  a  bird,  took  up  the 
running  on  the  other  side  in  first-rate  style;  and  before  Tin-ett  had 
got  Black  Eagle  fairly  into  his  stride  again,  the  Don  was  alongside 
of  him.  And  now  the  race,  properly  so  called,  began  in  earnest :  for 
nearly  a  mile  the  course  lay  along  a  slight  descent  of  smooth,  springy 
turf,  terminated  by  a  ditch,  and  a  low  brick  wall  heightened  by  a 
rail,  beyond  which  the  ground  rose  more  steeply  for  a  short 
distance,  up  to  the  winning-post.  Thus,  as  Dick  had  foreseen,  the 
man  and  horse  that  first  cleared  the  wall  in  safety  must  of  necessity 
win.  At  one  spot  the  fence  was  broken,  and  the  wall  partially 
knocked  down ;  but  this  gap,  although  within  the  marked  line,  was 
somewhat  out  of  the  direct  course.  Thus,  by  taking  the  ditch,  wall, 
and  fence,  at  the  nearest  point  (always  supposing  any  jockey  bold 
enough  to  attempt  such  a  leap,  and  fortunate  enough  to  accomplish 
it  in  safety),  an  amount  of  distance  would  be  saved  which  would 
eusm*e  success  to  the  entei'prising  rider.  Harry's  quick  eye  took  in 
the  situation  at  a  glance,  and  he  resolved  to  attempt  it,  unless  he 
should  gain  such  an  advantage  over  his  adversary,  before  reaching 
the  boundary  wall,  as  should  render  his  success  no  longer  a  doubtful 
matter.  That  Tirrett  equally  perceived  the  critical  nature  of  the 
situation  might  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that,  although  aware  of 
the  task  before  him  (for  even  across  the  gap  the  leap  was  one  which 
a  good  horseman,  on  a  fresh  steed,  might  congratulate  himself  on 
having  accomplished  safely,  and  which,  on  a  tired  one,  he  would 
think  twice  ere  he  ventured  to  attempt),  he  pressed  the  pace  to  the 
utmost  extent  of  his  horse's  power,  with  the  evident  intention  of 
rendering  Don  Pasquale  so  blown  that  it  must  break  down  at  the 
leap.  Unwilling  to  risk  the  desperate  chance  which  Dick's  billet 
had  suggested,  Coverdale  exerted  all  his  skill  to  maintain  the 
position  he  bad  gained,  which  at  one  moment  was  in  advance  of,  and 
for  some  distance  neck  and  neck  with,  his  opponent ;  but,  although 
Don  Pasquale  was  the  stronger  animal  of  the  two,  and  gifted  with 
greater  powers  of  endurance,  on  soft,  level  tui'f  Black  Eagle  had 
decidedly  the  advantage  in  point  of  swiftness  ;  moreover,  in  a  mere 
trial  of  speed,  TiiTett's  acquaintance  with  all  the  resources  of 
professional  jockeyship  stood  him  in  good  stead,  so  that  befoi'e  they 
had  approached  the  wall  Black  Eagle  had  not  only  passed,  but  was 


334  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

several  lengths  ahead  of  his  opponent.  Thus,  Coverdale  perceived 
that,  unless  he  chose  to  adopt  Dick's  dangerous  suggestion,  he  must 
relinqiiish  all  chance  of  winning  the  race.  Had  it  been  simply  a 
trial  of  speed  and  skill,  good  sense  and  right  principle  would 
probably  have  prevented  Harry  from  risking  his  life  for  so  in- 
adequate an  object ;  but  Tirrett's  dishonourable  behaviour  towards 
Lord  Alfred,  and  his  rascally  attempt  to  excite  the  vicious  temper 
of  Don  Pasquale  (an  attempt  which  all  but  gained  its  object),  had 
irritated  and  excited  Coverdale  to  such  a  degree  that,  reckless  of 
consequences,  he  was  eager  to  dai-e  any  peril  rather  than  allow  such 
infamous  conduct  to  be  triumphant.  Accordingly,  keeping  the 
direct  line,  he  shouted  to  Tirrett,  who  had  tui-ned  off  to  the  left  and 
was  making  for  the  gap,  "  Why  don't  you  follow  me,  sir,  like  a  man, 
instead  of  sneaking  over  gaps  like  a  coward  ?  "  he  got  his  horse  well 
in  hand,  and  rode  boldly  on. 

"When  Tin-ett  became  aware  of  his  intention  he  half  drew  in  his 
rein,  irresolute  what  course  to  take;  if  he  refused  to  follow,  and 
Coverdale  should  by  any  chance  succeed  in  getting  safely  over,  he 
knew  that  the  race,  and  all  he  had  depending  on  it,  wovild  be  lost, 
and  he  eagerly  scanned  the  leap  with  his  practised  eye ;  but  it  was 
too  formidable,  and,  as  Dick  had  foreseen,  his  courage  failed  him ; 
so,  turning  first  red,  then  pale,  he  muttered  an  uncharitable  wish 
concerning  Harry's  neck,  and  rode  on  towards  the  gap,  hoping  for 
its  fulfilment.  As  Coverdale  approached  the  wall,  the  conviction 
that  he  was  about  to  attempt  a  most  hazardous,  if  not  an  impossible 
feat,  forced  itself  upon  him  ;  still  his  resolution  never  wavered,  and 
he  was  preparing  himself  for  the  leap,  when  a  figure,  which  he 
recognized  as  that  of  the  gi-oom,  suddenly  rose  from  the  ditch,  and, 
pointing  to  a  particular  spot,  shouted,  "  Come  over  here !  give  him 
his  head,  and  let  him  take  it  his  own  way  ;  he's  got  his  steam  up,  and 
wouldn't  refuse  a  haystack." 

Relying  on  the  man's  acquaintance  with  the  animal,  HaiTy 
resolved  to  follow  his  advice  implicitly,  and,  slackening  his  rein, 
pressed  his  hat  firmly  over  his  brows,  clasped  his  saddle  tightly  with 
his  knees,  and  awaited  the  result. 

Dick  was  not  mistaken  in  his  estimate  of  the  Don's  courage  ;  for, 
as  soon  as  the  horse  perceived  the  obstacle  before  it,  it  pricked  up 
its  ears,  gathered  its  legs  well  under  it,  and  dashed  forward.  Nor 
had  he  formed  a  wrong  conception  in  regard  to  the  animal's  general 
powers  of  endurance ;  but  the  episode  occasioned  by  Tirrett's  foul 
blow,  with  the  subsequent  immersion  in  and  struggle  out  of  the  brook, 
were  incidents  on  which  he  had  not  calculated.  Thus,  although 
Don  Pasquale  rose  to  the  leap  gallantly,  and  by  a  prodigious  bound 
cleared  ditch,  wall,  and  fence,  the  exertion  so  completely  exhausted 
its  remaining  strength,  that,  on  its  descent  on  the  further  side,  all 
Harry's  efforts  were  unable  to  keep  it  on  its  legs,  and  it  pitched 
heavily  forward,  falling  with  and  partially  on  its  rider. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  335 


CHAPTER  LVI. 

THE     CATASTROPHE. 

Stunned  by  the  violence  of  the  shock,  Harry  was  aware  vaguely 
and  as  in  a  dream,  that  the  horse  had  risen,  and  that  some  person 
was  soothing  and  caressing  it :  from  this  state  of  semi-unconscious- 
ness he  was  aroused  by  the  voice  of  Dick,  the  groom,  exclaiming 
"  If  you  b'aint  too  much  hurt,  Mr.  Coverdale,  you  may  do  it  yet,  sir, 
if  so  be  as  you  can  sit  your  horse  ;  for  Black  Eagle  has  I'efused  the 
gap,  and  Tirret's  a  bullying  him  to  get  him  over  now." 

Thus  appealed  to,  Harry  rose  with  difficulty  (littering  an 
exclamation  of  pain  as  he  did  so),  and  gazed  confusedly  round  him. 
Uninjured  by  its  fall,  Don  Pasquale  was  standing  by  him,  held  by 
Dick ;  while,  considerably  to  the  left,  Tirrett,  having  ridden  back  a 
few  paces,  was  forcing  Black  Eagle,  by  a  severe  application  of  both 
whip  and  spur,  to  attempt  the  leap  over  the  gap,  which  he  had  just 
refused. 

"  Here,  quick ;  "  exclaimed  Coverdale  eagerly,  "  hold  the  stin-up — 
that  will  do — don't  touch  my  arm — I'll  disappoint  that  scoundrel 
yet ! "  and,  gathering  up  the  reins  with  his  right  hand,  he  put 
spurs  to  his  horse,  and  galloped  off.  After  a  struggle,  Tin-ett 
succeeded  in  forcing  Black  Eagle  across  the  gap,  and  by  dint  of 
spui-ring  and  shaking,  got  him  into  a  sort  of  shambling  canter  on  the 
fai'ther  side  of  it ;  but  it  was  of  no  avail,  for,  as  Don  Pasquale  passed 
the  winning  post,  Black  Eagle  was  still  several  lengths  behind  : 
Coverdale's  desperate  leap  had  accomplished  the  purpose  for  which 
it  had  been  attempted,  and  Lord  Alfred  Courtland's  horse  remained 
winner  of  the  steeplechase. 

As  he  rode  in  ti-iumphant,  an  eager  crowd  of  Don  Pasquale's 
backers  surrounded  him  with  loud  congratulations.  "Splendidly 
done  !  I  never  saw  such  riding  in  my  life  !  "  "  That  leap  with  a 
tired  horse  was  the  pluckiest  thing  ever  attempted — there's  not 
another  man  on  the  course  would  have  faced  it ! "  "  The  business 
of  the  brook  was  the  cleverest  dodge  of  all — I  saw  it  through  a  race- 
glass,  and  I  never  expected  you  could  have  kept  on  him."  "Didn't 
the  horse  fall  on  you  ?  are  you  hui't,  Mr.  Coverdale  ?  "  Such  were 
some  of  the  numerous  remarks  and  exclamations  which  rang  in 
Harry's  ears,  as  faint  and  giddy,  it  was  as  much  as  he  could  do  to 
retain  his  seat  without  falling  from  the  saddle. 

"  Han-y,  my  dear,  kind  friend,  how  can  I  ever  thank  you 
sufficiently  P "  exclaimed  Lord  Alfred  Coui-tland,  forcing  his  way 
through  the  crowd. 


33(3  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  Find  the  groom,"  was  tlie  hurried  reply,  "  for  I  can't  keep  on  tlie 
horse  much  longer." 

As  he  spoke,  Dick,  with  a  face  crimson  with  heat  and  triumph, 
made  his  appearance,  and  took  charge  of  Don  Pasquale,  while  Harry, 
with  a  painful  effort,  swung  himself  to  the  ground,  where  he 
staggered  and  appeared  scarcely  able  to  stand. 

"  You  are  faint !  "  exclaimed  Loi*d  Alfred  hastily,  "  here,  lean  upon 
me,  and  let  us  get  out  of  this  crowd." 

*'  Take  care  of  my  arm,"  murmured  Harry,  compressing  his  lips  as 
though  to  restrain  an  expression  of  suffering. 

"  Your  arm  !  why,  good  heaven  !  what  is  the  matter  with  it  ?  " 

"  It  is  only  broken,"  returned  Harry  quietly ;  "  the  horse  fell 
upon  it  with  his  full  weight  at  the  last  leap;  but  I  was  able  to  hold 
him  with  one  hand,  so  it  did  not  signify." 

"And  you  mounted  again,  and  won  the  race  with  your  arm 
broken ! "  exclaimed  Lord  Alfred.  "  Why,  it's  the  most  gallant, 
noble — but  yoii  ai-e  suffei'ing  di-eadfully!  Oh,  what  am  I  to  do 
for  you  ?  why  did  I  ever  let  you  ride  that  vicious,  dangerous 
brute  ?  " 

"  There,  don't  make  a  fuss,"  returned  Coverdale ;  "  let  us  get  out 
of  this  crowd ;  find  me  a  glass  of  wine,  for  I've  a  sort  of  f aintuess 
comes  over  me  every  now  and  then,  and  when  I've  drank  that  I 
shall  do  well  enough  until  we  can  get  a  surgeon  to  set  my  arm ; 
don't  worry  about  it— when  I  put  the  horse  at  that  wall  I  fully 
expected  to  break  my  neck." 

Five  minutes'  rest,  and  a  couple  of  glasses  of  old  sherry,  restored 
Coverdale  sufficiently  to  enable  him  to  announce  his  readiness  to 
pi'oceed,  though  he  refused  to  leave  the  ground  lantil  the  Honourable 
Billy  Whipcord  had  undei'taken  to  see  that  the  winner  was  defraiided 
of  none  of  his  rights  ;  and  then,  and  not  till  then,  did  Han-y  accept 
Lord  Alfred's  offer  to  accompany  him  to  town  in  a  hansom  cab, 
which  a  gentleman  who  had  engaged  it  for  the  day  obligingly  gave 
up  the  moment  he  leai'ned  for  what  pm-pose  it  was  required. 

The  conversation  of  the  two  friends  during  the  drive  to  London 
afforded  a  curious  illustration  of  character.  Lord  Alfred,  grieved 
and  shocked  beyond  measure  at  the  accident  which  had  occurred  to 
his  old  schoolfellow  in  his  service,  was  engaged  the  whole  time 
in  pouring  forth  unavailing  lamentations  and  self-accusings  ;  while 
Coverdale,  although  suffering  the  most  excruciating  anguish  from 
every  motion  of  the  cab,  was  so  touched  by  the  evidence  of  feeling 
shown  by  his  companion,  that  he  not  only  repressed  all  outward 
signs  of  pain,  but  used  his  best  endeavours  to  comfort  and  console 
Lord  Alfred.  On  their  way  to  Lord  Alfi-ed's  lodgings,  where  he 
insisted  Coverdale  should  take  up  his  abode  until  he  should  be  well 
enough  to  travel,  they  called  at  the  house  of  a  surgeon  celebrated  for 
his  skill  in  cases  of  fracture,  and  were  fortunate  enough  to  find  him 
at  home.  On  learning  the  natui'e  of  the  accident,  he  provided 
himself  with  the  necessary  apparatus,  reached  the  lodgings  as  soon 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  337 

as  liis  patient,  and,  within  an  hour  of  the  time  at  which  the  injury 
was  inflicted,  Coverdale's  arm  was  set,  and  the  fracture  pronounced 
to  be  not  a  very  serious  one. 

"  And  now  for  my  i)oor  Alice,"  was  Harry's  first  exclamation, 
when,  with  strict  injunctions  to  go  to  bed  and  keep  his  arm  quiet, 

Mr.  B had  departed  ;  "  how  am  I  to  act  about  her  ?     If  I  ^vl•ite 

her  word  I've  met  with  an  accident,  she'll  be  frightened  out  of  her 
wits ;  and  yet  if  I  don't,  she  may  hear  of  it  some  other  way  (those 
confounded  newspapers  are  sure  to  get  hold  of  the  affair),  and  fancy 
I  am  killed,  or  some  such  notion  ;  I'd  better  vsrrite — give  me  the  tools, 
there's  a  good  fellow." 

'*  But  really  you  ought  not  to  exert  yourself  to  do  it,  remember — " 
began  Lord  Alfred  deprecatingly. 

"  I  remember,  sir,  that  my  wife  is  alone,  and  anxious  aboiit  me 
already,  and  that  if  I  can  spare  her  any  shock  or  alarm,  I  will  do  so 
as  long  as  I  can  hold  a  pen,"  was  Coverdale's  positive  and  somewhat 
snappish  answer,  for  which  he  must  be  held  excused,  as  severe 
bodily  pain  does  not  tend  to  improve  the  temper. 

Lord  Alfred,  seeing  it  was  useless  to  contend  the  point,  gave  him 
pen,  ink,  and  paper ;  and,  unfit  as  he  was  for  such  exertion.  Cover- 
dale  wi'ote  Alice  a  full  account  of  his  day's  adventures,  only  con- 
cealing the  nature  and  extent  of  his  accident.  The  letter  was  most 
kind  and  judicious,  and  well  calculated  to  soothe  and  console  her  to 
whom  it  was  addressed,  and  no  doubt  would  have  succeeded  in  so 
doing,  but  for  the  following  and  untoward  events. 

Alice,  left  to  herself,  had  grown  desperately  frightened  as  to  the 
possible  upshot  of  her  husband's  i-ash  expedition  to  London ;  and, 
as  the  reader  is  already  awai-e,  had  dispatched  after  him  Lord 
Alfred's  lettei',  and  her  own  I'easons  for  so  doing,  fairly  written  upon 
two  sheets  of  scented  notepaper.  But  although  she  rightly  con- 
sidered this  the  best  thing  she  could  do,  yet  it  by  no  means  afforded 
her  lasting  comfort,  and  she  remained  restless  and  unhappy  until, 
on  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  the  steeplechase  occurred,  she 
w^orked  herself  up  to  such  a  pitch  of  nervous  anxiety,  that  she  was 
becoming  quite  ill,  when  the  idea  struck  her  that  perhaps  Harry, 
having  received  her  letter,  might  set  off  at  once,  and  aiTive  by  a  train 
which  got  in  about  seven  p.m.  On  the  chance  of  this  she  dispatched, 
to  meet  the  aforesaid  train,  a  groom  and  a  dog-cart.  Now,  as  the 
reader  knows,  it  was  impossible  Harry  could  arrive  by  that  train, 
because,  at  the  time  it  started,  he — having  wi'itten  to  Alice — had 
just  been  undressed  by  Lord  Alfred  Courtland's  valet,  and  gone  to 
bed,  which  no  one  can  doubt  was  by  far  the  best  place  for  him.  But 
though  he  did  not  come  by  that  train,  a  young  farmer  did,  who  was 
one  of  Harry's  tenants,  and  who,  as  ill-luck  would  have  it,  had  been 
at  the  steeplechase,  witnessed  Coverdale's  leap  and  fall,  and  heard 
afterwards  an  exaggerated  account  of  the  injuries  he  had  received. 
Thus,  when  the  groom  inquired  if  he  had  seen  his  master  get  into 
the  train,  he  favoured  that  equine  servitor  with  a  gra])hic  history  of 


338  HARRY  CO VERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP 

the  morning's  proceedings,  illustrated  and  embellished  by  the 
naiTator's  imaginative  powers,  which  i-ecital,  producing  much  grief 
and  consternation  in  the  mind  of  the  faithful  fellow,  who  was  much 
attached  to  his  master,  induced  him  to  drive  home  as  fast  as  the 
trotting  mare  could  step  to  destroy  his  mistress's  peace  of  mind  by 
imparting  to  her  these  disastrous  tidings.  Having  gi-eat  and,  as 
the  sequel  proved,  unfounded  reliance  on  his  own  tact  and  eloquence, 
he,  on  his  aiTival,  would  by  no  means  allow  Wilkins  to  be  his  mouth- 
piece ;  on  the  contrary,  nothing  would  serve  him  but  to  be  shown 
into  his  mistress's  presence,  and,  as  he  termed  it  "  break  it  to  her 
easy  like  "  himself — which  judicious  intention  he  can-ied  out  thus  : — 
"  If  you  please,  Mrs.  Coverdale,  ma'am,  I'm  soiTy  to  say  somethin' 
dreadful's  been  and  happened,  which  I  thought  p'raps  you  might  like 
to  ear :  so,  not  to  frighten  you,  I  made  bold  to  come  and  break  it  to 
you  myself." 

Poor  Alice !  all  the  blood  seemed  to  rush  to  her  heart,  while  a 
choking  sensation  in  her  throat  totally  deprived  her  of  the  power  of 
speech.  After  a  moment  she  conti-ived  to  gasp  out  interrogatively, 
"A  railroad  accident?  your  master — " 

Answering  her  idea  rather  than  her  words,  the  man  replied, "  If  you 
please,  ma'am,  it  wasn't  on  the  railway  as  poor  master  met  with  his 
accident ! " 

"  Then  he  has  met  with — "  began  Alice,  and  the  idea  at  that  moment 
flashed  across  her  mind  that  he  had  encountered  D'Almayne,  and 
been  wounded,  perhaps  killed,  in  a  duel,  she  shrieked  out,  "  Oh  !  I 
see  it  all ;  he  is  dead  or  dying,  and  I  have  been  his  murderess  !  "  and 
sank  back  in  a  fainting  fit. 

The  groom,  frightened  at  the  effect  of  his  tidings,  summoned  the 
female  servants,  and  Alice  was  caiTied  to  her  room,  imdressed,  and 
placed  in  bed,  befoi'e  she  had  by  any  means  recovered  from  her 
swoon  ;  and  even  when,  after  one  or  two  relapses,  she  did  regain  her 
consciousness,  her  buraing  hand,  flushed  cheeks,  and  unnatiirally 
brilliant  eyes,  together  with  an  incoherence  of  expression  and  an 
excitability  of  manner  occasionally  verging  on  delirium,  so  alarmed 
the  stately  housekeeper  that  she,  on  her  own  responsibility,  sent  off 
for  that  eminent  medical  practitioner,  Gouger ;  the  result  of  his  visit 
was,  that  Han-y,  braised  and  sore  from  head  to  foot,  having  lain 
awake  half  the  night  from  the  pain  of  his  broken  arm,  was  aroused 
from  an  uneasy  slumber,  into  which,  towards  morning,  he  had  fallen, 
by  the  following  telegraphic  message : — "  H.  Coverdale,  Esq.,  from 
Scalpel  Gouger,  M.D. — Was  called  in  to  Mrs.  C.  last  night,  at  nine 
p.m. — symptoms  acute,  febrile,  threatening  the  brain !  state  critical 
— if  Mr.  C.  can  ti-avel  without  danger,  let  him  come  at  once !  " 

In  less  than  half  an  hour,  Han-y  Coverdale  was  up,  dressed,  and  in 
the  first  railway  train  which  left  London.  As  he  had  lain  sleepless 
through  the  weary  hours  of  the  night,  he  had  thought  the  pain  of  his 
broken  limb  all  but  unbearable;  during  his  jom-ney  home  he  never 
even  felt  it,  so  deep  and  absorbing  was  his  mental  agony. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  839 


CHAPTER  LVII. 

AN  ANONYMOUS   LETTER. 

While  Han^  Coverdale,  witli  the  best  possible  intentions,  had  been 
breaking  his  wife's  heart  and  his  own  bones,  the  world  had  not  stood 
still,  nor  had  the  ordinary  com-se  of  events  been  in  the  slightest  degree 
retarded.  On  the  contrary,  the  unsympathizing  globe  we  inhabit  had 
revolved  on  its  axis  with  its  accustomed  perseverance,  and  men  had 
been  born  into  it  in  their  first  childhood  and  died  out  of  it  in  their 
second ;  and  the  sons  and  daughters  of  men  had  married  and  given 
in  marriage,  and  the  many  had  gone  on  sinning  and  the  few  repent- 
ing, vei'y  much  as  it  all  happened  in  the  days  of  Noah,  while  the  ark 
was  a-building  and  the  long-suffering  of  God  waited  to  allow  the 
evil-doers  to  perceive  the  error  of  their  way,  and  to  turn  from  it  ere 
the  day  of  mercy  should  be  over  and  the  destroyer  should  be  let 
loose  upon  them.  The  world  was  then  a  profligate  young  world, 
sowing  its  wild  oats  broadcast  with  a  frank  and  careless  disregard 
of  appearances,  which  involved  at  least  the  one  virtue  of  sincerity — 
the  world  is  now  a  crafty  old  world,  in  its  dotage,  one  is  sometimes 
tempted  to  imagine  ;  but  even  the  flood  only  whitewashed  its  outside, 
for  it  still  clings  to  its  darling  sins,  though  no  longer  openly — the 
world  has  grown  too  cunning  for  that,  it  knows  the  value  of  a  good 
name,  and  has  set  up  a  gilded  idol  of  clay,  yclept  Respectability,  to 
resemble  the  refined  gold  of  which  virtue's  image  is  composed ;  and 
because  it  worships  this  idol  zealously,  short-sighted  optimists  mis- 
take hypocrisy  for  true  religion,  and  deem  the  world  has  grown  pious 
in  its  old  age ;  but  there  are  those  who  fear  that  if,  once  again,  the 
waters  should  overspread  the  earth,  sin  would  weigh  so  heavily  on 
the  inhabitants  thereof,  that  not  very  many  of  them  would  swim. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  certain  it  is  that  while  Han-y  was  riding  Don 
Pasquale  across  the  country  at  the  risk  of  his  neck,  and  Alice  was 
fretting  herself  into  a  brain  fever  on  the  chance  of  liis  being  shot  by 
Horace  £)'Almayne,  that  talented  young  gentleman  was  labouring 
most  industriously,  with  the  assistance  of  his  cousin,  the  avocat,  at 
Brussels,  to  obtain  the  sum  of  money  due  to  Mr.  Crane,  on  the  cargo 
of  the  vmfortunate  "  Bundelcundah,"  East  Indiaman.  When  men 
exert  their  utmost  energies  to  attain  an  object,  success  nine  times 
out  of  ten  is  the  result ;  consequently,  very  few  days  had  elapsed 
after  Horace's  departure  before  Mr.  Crane  had  the  pleasui-e  of  learn- 
ing that  the  mere  threat  of  energetic  law  proceedings  had  brought 
his  adversary  to  reason,  and  that  the  money  had  been  actually  paid 
into  D'Almayne's  hands.    But  somehow  this  announcement  did  not 


310  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

appear  to  afford  tlie  worthy  ex-cotton-spinner  sucTi  satisfaction  as 
might  have  been  expected ;  on  the  contrary,  when  he  closed  the  letter 
•which  conveyed  the  intelligence,  he,  to  his  wife's  sui-prise,  muttei-ed 
something  very  like  an  oath  ;  whereupon,  after  the  laudable  fashion 
of  her  sex,  that  lady  appeared  deeply  scandalized,  and  exclaimed, 
"  My  dear  Mr.  Crane  !  "  in  a  tone  of  voice  which  metamoi-phosed  that 
affectionate  addi'ess  into  "  Ton  wicked  old  man,  where  do  you  expect 
to  go  to  ?  "  Replying  rather  to  her  tone  than  her  words,  her  husband, 
exalting  his  peevish  treble,  began  : — 

"  Yes,  it's  all  very  well  for  you,  Mrs.  Crane,  who  have  nothing  to 
do  but  sit  here  and  spend  the  money  I  pour  into  your  lap,  to  keep 
your  temper  and  look  horrified  if  one  utters  a  hasty  expression  ;  but 
if  you  had  to  toil  and  moil  all  yoiu*  days  to  scrape  it  together,  and 
then  be  defi'auded  out  of  yom-  hard-earned  gains  by  creeping  sei-pents, 
whom  you  have  warmed  and  cherished — in — if  I  may  be  allowed  the 
expression — in  your  breeches  pocket,  and  who  have  availed  them- 
selves of  their  iDOsition  to — yes!  I  may  say — to  pick  that  pocket,  I 
wonder  what  expressions  you  would  indulge  in  then,  l^Ii-s.  Crane  !  " 
And  haA-ing  worked  himself  up  almost  into  a  fit  of  crying,  Mr.  Crane 
once  more  turned  to  his  lettei*. 

"  Ah  !  coming  home,  is  he  ?  I've  a  great  mind  to  have  him  an-ested 
as  soon  as  he  places  his  foot  on  British  soil;  I  wonder  at  his 
impudence,  that  I  do !  " 

'•  To  whom  do  yoia  refer  ?  "  inquired  Kate  quietly,  as  soon  as  she 
could  get  in  a  word ;  for  Mr.  Crane,  when  excited,  was  as  voluble  as 
a  washerwoman. 

'■  To  whom  do  I  refer  !  "  repeated  her  husband,  in  the  highest  note 
of  his  shriU  falsetto  ;  '"  why,  madam,  to  whom  should  I  refer,  except 
to  your  precious  friend  and  admirer,  Horace  D  Almayne  ?  " 

*'  Mr.  D'AlmajTie  ! "  exclaimed  Kate  in  suz'prise ;  for  only  two 
days  befoi'^,  Mr.  Ci-ane  had  detained  her  for  a  good  half -hour  to 
listen  to  the  praises  of  his  factotum's  zeal  and  fidelity.  "  Mr. 
D'Almayne  !  why  I  thought  you  were  so  much  pleased  with  the  tact 
and  intelligence  he  had  displayed  in  yoiu-  service  !  sin-ely,  you  told  me 
he  had  actually  received  the  money  of  which  your  foreign  agent 
attemi^ted  to  defraud  you." 

"  And  if  he  has,  how  do  I  know  that  it's  any  safer  in  his  hands 
than  it  was  before  ?  it's  a  large  siim  to  trust  a  needy  man  with :  how 
can  I  tell  that  he  won't  bolt  with  it  ?  " 

'■  Surely,  you  do  not  suspect  him  of  dishonesty  ?  " 

"I  suspect  him  of  everything  that's  wicked  and  deceitful,  and 
di-eadful,"  retiirned  Mr.  Crane,  in  a  tone  of  voice  so  dismal,  that 
Kate  could  scarcely  restrain  a  smile.  "  But  of  course  you  defend 
him — yes,  Mrs.  Ci^ane,  I  say,  of  course  you  defend  him  !  I  am  not 
sm-prised  at  that — in  fact,  I  may  add,  I  expected  as  much.  I  had 
reason,  good  reason,  madam,  to  imagine  such  would  be  youi'  line  of 
conduct." 

Kate  paused  until  her  husband  had  talked  himself  into  the  state 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  341 

of  mean  and  abject  peevisliness,  wliicli  was  the  nearest  apjDi'oaeli  lie 
could  ever  make  towards  bein^  in  a  rage  with  one  who  was  not 
utterly  weak  and  powerless,  and,  when  he  stopped  from  sheer  want 
of  breath,  observed  quietly, — 

'■  I  really  am  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  to  what  you  allude,  or  what 
reason  you  can  possibly  have  to  connect  me  with  this  sudden  change 
of  opinion  in  regard  to  Mr.  D'Almayne :  would  you  oblige  me  by 
explaining  ?  " 

"  I  sha'n't  do  anything  of  the  kind,  madam ;  I  don't  see  that  I'm 
obliged  to  give  you  any  reason ;  it  ought  to  be  enough  for  you  to 
know  that  I  disapprove  of  your  conduct — conduct  which  could  give 
rise  to  such  representations,  madam;  and — and  comments,  Mrs. 
Crane,  impertinent  remarks,  derogatory  to  my  position — must  be 
reprehensible." 

"  I  do  not  desire  to  annoy  you,  but  I  must  again  ask  to  what 
remarks  and  representations  you  refer  ? "  was  Kate's  reply.  Mr. 
Crane  fidgeted,  looked  lieii^lexed,  tried  to  get  angi-y,  and  carry  it 
through  with  a  high  hand,  met  Kate's  calm  eye  and  could  not,  and 
at  last  with  a  very  ill  grace  drew  from  his  pocket  a  letter,  which  he 
unfolded  and  prepared  to  read,  saying, — 

"  There,  Mrs.  Crane  !  since  my  word  is  not  sufficient  to  gain  your 
credence,  or  my  desires,  ahem  !  my  wishes,  if  you  prefer  the  expres- 
sion, to  seciu'C  your  obedience,  you  force  me  to  submit  to  you  this 
singular — I  may  say,  this  offensive  document,  which,  ahem !  in 
conjunction  with  other  information,  has  occasioned  me  much 
justifiable  annoyance,  and,  I  may  add,  mental  anxiety  and  distress." 

The  letter  was  written  in  a  bold,  dashing,  though  e\'idently 
disguised,  hand,  and  ran  as  follows  : — 

"  Sir, — I  have  no  doubt  you  consider  yourself  a  clever,  cautious 
man  of  business,  a  prudent  master  of  a  family,  and  a  kind  and 
judicious  husband — if  you  do,  all  that  I  can  say  is,  that '  I  am  unable 
to  agree  with  you.'  A  clever,  cautious  man  of  business  would 
scarcely  leave  important  money  transactions  to  the  management  of 
Horace  D'Almayne,  a  needy  and  unprincipled  adventvu-er ;  a  prudent 
master  of  a  house  would  not  encourage  such  an  intimacy ;  nor  would 
a  kind  and  judicious  husband  allow  a  notorious  libertine  to  be 
constantly  in  the  society  of  his  young  and  pretty  wife.  Your 
infatuation  has  already  produced  some  of  the  unpleasant  results 
natm'ally  to  be  expected  from  it :  you  have  advanced  above  .£5000  on 
a  bubble  company,  not  one  farthing  of  which  you  will  ever  see 
again,  whilst  you  have  incuiTed  liabilities,  to  learn  the  extent  of 
which  you  had  better  consult  your  man  of  business,  and  I  wish  you 
joy  of  the  revelation  I  expect  you  will  obtain  from  him.  In  regai'd 
to  your  young  wife,  I  have  no  positive  information  to  afford  you ; 
but  that  D'Almayne  has  designs  upon  her,  I  know, — and  he  is  not  a 
man  to  fail  in  an  adventure  of  that  description,  even  without  taking 
into  consideration  the  circumstance  of  a  beautiful  young  woman 


342  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

being  married  to  a  man  of  your  years.  You  may  wonder  why  I 
trouble  myself  to  wi'ite  thus  to  you;  so  I  will  tell  you:  I  owe 
D'Almayne  a  grudge,  and  it  suits  me  to  take  tbis  opportunity  of 
discharging  the  debt.  But  though  this  is  my  object,  all  I  have  told 
you  is  only  the  plain  truth  ;  I  suspect  it  comes  too  late  to  be  of  much 
use  to  you ;  but  that  is  your  look-out,  not  mine." 

The  letter  was  without  signature. 

Kate  listened  attentively  while  Mr.  Crane  read  aloud,  with  much 
hesitation  and  stammering,  such  portions  of  the  alarming  epistle  as 
concerned  his  i)roperty  and  his  wife,  carefully  suppressing  every 
sentence  which  related  to  his  own  weakness  and  gullibility.  When 
he  had  concluded,  she  remarked,  "  The  letter  is  a  singular  one,  and 
appears  to  me  to  bear  a  certain  impress  of  truth ;  if  I  were  you, 
I  would  attend  to  the  hints  in  regard  to  your  pecuniary  invest- 
ments." 

"  And  as  to  those  which  affect  my  wife,  what  would  you  advise  in 
regard  to  them,  madam  p  "  inquired  Mr.  Crane,  screwing  up  his  face 
into  an  expression  of  feeble  sarcasm,  which  gave  him  very  much  the 
appearance  of  an  ancient  monkey.  Kate  paused :  here  was  an 
opportunity  which  might  never  occur  again  of  enlightening  her 
husband  as  to  her  experience  of  Horace  D'Almayne's  true  character. 
She  had  every  reason  to  do  so ;  his  threat  of  revealing  the  clandes- 
tine visit  she  was  prepared  to  forestall,  if  necessary,  by  an  honest 
confession  of  the  entire  affair,  prefen-ing  to  bear  with  her  husband's 
fretful  displeasure  (of  which,  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  she  did  not 
stand  very  greatly  in  awe)  rather  than  to  excite  his  suspicions  by  a 
concealment  which  would  lend  countenance  to  the  insinuations  of 
this  anonymous  coiTespondent — yes  !  she  had  every  reason  to  tell  all 
she  knew  concei'ning  him,  even  to  his  late  avowal  of  affection,  and 
yet  she  felt  she  could  not  do  it.  In  the  first  i^lace  she  shi'ank,  as 
any  pure-minded  woman  would  shrink,  from  confessing  that  such 
an  avowal  had  been  made  to  her ;  but  especially  did  she  shiink  from 
confessing  it  to  such  a  nature  as  that  of  Mr.  Crane :  he  would 
never  see  the  matter  in  its  true  light — never  believe  that  she  had  not, 
in  some  measure,  encouraged  such  advances — never  comprehend  the 
disgust  and  loathing  with  which  they  had  inspired  her.  But 
another  and  more  stringent  reason  withheld  her — her  brother 
Frederick  !  she  still  believed  that  D'Almayne  had  befriended  him, 
and  saved  him  from,  at  all  events,  the  immediate  conseqiience  of  the 
dilemma  into  which  his  youth  and  inexperience  had  plunged  him  : 
true,  she  mistrusted  his  object  in  i^erforming  this  act  of  benevolence 
— or,  rather,  she  felt  convinced  that  he  had  done  it  merely  to  estab- 
lish a  claim  on  her  gratitude ; — still,  the  fact  remained  the  same — in 
her  difficulty,  when  all  other  human  aid  appeared  to  have  forsaken 
her,  he  had  come  to  her  assistance,  and  by  doing  so  had  saved  her 
brother  :  believing  this,  could  she  expose  his  baseness  ?  The  question 
was  a  diflBcult  one. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  343 


CHAPTER  LVIII. 

DIAMOND  CUT  DIAMOND. 

Those  who  are  skilled  to  read  that  strange,  yet  easily  to  be  pene- 
trated mystery,  a  woman's  heart,  will  have  at  once  decided  how 
Kate  Crane  determined  to  act  in  regard  to  D'Almayne — he  had 
saved  her  brother,  and  though  he  had  oifered  her  an  unjpardonable 
insult,  she  would  not  betray  him,  so  she  replied  calmly, — 

"I  should  on  that  point  advise  you  as  I  did  on  the  former  one  : 
reflect  whether  the  accusation  is  likely  to  be  true  ;  whether  you  have 
observed  any  encouragement  given  by  me  to  Mr.  D  Almayne ; 
whether,  from  what  you  know  of  my  character,  you  imagine  it  likely 
that  I  should  be  so  devoid  of  principle,  so  wanting  in  self-respect,  as 
to  accept  Mr.  D  Almayne's  or  any  other  man's  attentions.  Recollect 
a  speech  I  once  made  you,  which  really  appears  as  if  I  had  had  a  pre- 
sentiment of  this  accusation — a  speech  in  which  I  begged  you  to 
bear  in  mind  that,  if  at  any  time  comments  shoiild  be  made  on  the 
intimate  footing  on  which  Mr.  D'Almayne  visited  at  this  house,  it 
was  according  to  your  expressed  wish  and  desire  that  he  did  so,  and 
on  that  account  only  did  I  tolerate  it.  If,  when  you  have  thus  con- 
sidered the  matter,  you  still  feel  dissatisfied,  I  advise  you  to  use  every 
endeavour  to  an-ive  at  the  truth.  My  own  opinion  is,  that  the 
letter  being  written  by  (as  the  writer  honestly  enough  confesses)  an 
enemy  of  Mr.  D' Almayne's,  he  has  raked  up  every  accusation  which 
scandal  may  have  invented  to  blacken  that  gentleman's  character; 
still,  as,  if  there  is  any  truth  in  the  charges,  the  knowledge  of  it 
would  prove  of  great  impoi'tance  to  you,  it  behoves  you  quietly 
and  carefully  to  inquire  into  them,  and  I  would  recommend  you  to 
do  so  without  delay." 

Kate's  pei-fect  self-possession  and  coolness  always  produced  great 
efEect  on  Mr.  Crane,  and  in  the  present  instance  they  so  thoroughly 
convinced  him  that  his  anonymous  coiTespondent  had  accused  his 
wife  falsely,  that  without  more  ado  he  started  for  the  city  to 
investigate  the  truth  of  the  other  charges,  leaving  his  better  half  to 
strive  against  the  uncomfortable  conviction  that  imintentionally 
she  had  played  the  part  of  a  hypocrite. 

One  of  the  elements  of  Horace  D  Almayne's  success  in  life  was  his 
punctuality  in  all  matters  of  business :  if  he  said  he  woxild  do  a 
thing,  he  did  it ;  if  he  promised  to  be  at  any  place  by  a  fixed  time,  at 
the  appointed  day  and  hour  there  was  Horace  to  be  found  :  this  con- 
sistency even  in  apparent  trifles  caused  others  to  place  great  reliance 
on  him,  and  contributed  to  establish  a  certain  degree  of  prestige  and 


344  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

wei^lit  of  cliaractei"  wliich  often  stood  liim  in  good  stead.  No  one 
was  better  aware  of  this  fact  than  Horace  himself,  who,  perceiving 
the  vahie  of  the  practice,  had  adopted  it  as  one  of  his  gniding 
principles,  to  which  he  invarialily  acted  up  with  a  consistency  worthy 
of  a  better  code.  Accordingly,  having  transacted  Mr.  Crane's 
busiiiess  to  his  own  satisfaction,  he  appointed  a  day  on  which  to 
return  to  England,  and  when  the  time  arrived,  embarked  ;  but, 
unable  finally  to  conclude  the  transaction  without  proceeding  to 
Liverpool,  he  selected  a  vessel  bound  for  that  port.  On  his  arrival, 
after  a  favourable  passage,  he  took  up  his  abode  at  a  small,  quiet 
hotel,  much  frequented  by  foreigners.  Having  engaged  a  in-ivate 
room,  he  was  looking  over  the  papers  which  he  had  brought  with 
him,  when  his  quick  ear  caught  the  sound  of  a  voice  with  the  tones 
of  which  he  fancied  himself  familiar — listening  attentively,  he  over- 
heard the  following  colloquy, — 

"  Can  I  have  a  private  sitting-room  here  ?  " 

"  Well,  sir,  we're  very  full ;  should  you  require  a  bedroom 
also  P  " 

"  No  ;  I  am  going  by  the  New  Yoi'k  packet,  which  leaves  at  eight 
o'clock  this  evening." 

"  If  you'll  wait  one  moment,  sir,  I'll  see ;  but  I'm  a'most  afraid 
we're  full." 

Anxious  to  obtain  a  view  of  the  speakers,  D  Almayne  crossed  the 
room  with  noiseless  tread,  and  looked  out  through  the  half-opened 
door ;  the  figure  nearest  to  him  was  that  of  the  waiter  at  the  hotel ; 
the  person  with  whom  he  had  been  conversing  was,  or  apjjeared  to 
be,  a  seafaring  man  of  the  more  respectable  class,  and  at  the  first 
glance  D'Almayne  believed  him  to  be  an  entire  stranger — still,  the 
voice,  so  peculiar  and  so  well  known,  he  surely  could  not  be  mis- 
taken in  that !  and  again  he  scrutinized  the  stranger's  appearance. 
He  was  a  tall  thin  man,  well  advanced  in  life,  with  sharp  acute 
features  and  keen  grey  eyes;  his  hair  was  cut  short,  and  of  an 
unnaturally  raven  blackness ;  and  his  face  was  closely  shaven, 
without  the  slightest  trace  of  whisker  or  moustache.  For  a  moment, 
Horace  D'Almayne  paused  in  doubt,  during  which  interval  the 
stranger's  evil  genius  obliged  him  to  cough,  a  dry  husky  cough 
which,  once  heard,  was  not  easily  mistaken — it  was  enough.  In 
going  to  seek  the  master  of  the  hotel,  the  waiter  had  to  pass  the 
door  of  D'Almayne's  room ;  a  sign  from  that  individual's  finger 
caused  him  to  enter  it. 

"  Show  that  gentleman  into  this  room,  as  if  it  was  the  untenanted 
apartment  be  has  inquired  for — leave  the  key  in  the  lock  inside,  and 
if  I  ring  the  bell  twice  fetch  a  policeman  instantly ;  but  as  I  hope 
such  an  extreme  measure  may  not  be  necessary,  do  not  say  a  word 
about  the  affair  to  any  one."  As  he  spoke,  he  slipped  a  sovereign 
into  the  man's  hand,  adding,  "  Manage  this  cleverly  and  quietly,  and 
a  second  awaits  you." 

The  waiter  bowed,  and  with  a  nod  of  iutclligcnce  quitted  the  room. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  315 

The  door  of  the  apartment  was  so  phiced  that  Avhen  opened  it  shut 
in  an  angle  of  tlie  wall,  in  which  stood  a  screen  quite  large  enough 
to  conceal  the  figure  of  a  man  ;  in  this  comer  did  D'Almayne 
ensconce  himself ;  scarcely  had  he  done  so  ere  the  waiter  retunaed, 
ushering  in  the  stranger  for  whose  benefit  these  arrangements  had 
been  made.  Perfectly  unsuspicious  of  any  stratagem,  the  newcomer 
signified  his  appi'oval  of  the  accommodation  provided  for  him,  placed 
a  leathern  valise  which  he  carried  in  his  hand  on  the  table,  and  then 
seated  himself  by  the  window  with  his  back  towards  the  door,  which 
the  waiter  immediately  closed,  at  the  same  time  leaving  the  room, 
when  with  noiseless  steps  D'Almayne  glided  fi'om  his  place  of 
concealment,  and  double-locking  the  door  placed  the  key  in  his 
pocket.  The  slight  sound  made  by  the  bolt  shooting  into  its  socket 
attracted  the  stranger's  attention,  and  ttirning  round  qiuckly,  he 
gave  a  most  perceptible  start  as  his  eye  fell  upon  his  companion ; 
recovering  himself  instantly,  he  rose,  and  bowmg  to  D'Almayne, 
said, — 

"  The  waiter  mxist  have  made  some  mistake !  I  asked  for  an 
imoccupied  room.  I  must  apologize  for  thus  intruding  on  you,  sir ; 
but  the  mistake  is  not  on  my  part."  As  he  spoke,  he  took  up  his 
valise  pre)3aratory  to  leaving  the  room,  but  D'Almayne  motioned 
him  to  a  chair,  as  he  replied, — 

"  There  is  no  mistake  in  the  case,  my  friend,  unless  it  be  your 
fancying  that,  because  you  have  shaved  off  yoiu*  whiskers  and 
dyed  your  hair,  I  shoiild  not  recognize  yon — that  is  a  complete 
mistake." 

The  person  thus  addressed  turned  pale  and  bit  his  lip  ;  but,  making 
an  effort  to  recover  himself,  replied, — 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  sir ;  you  are  labouring  under  some 
delusion  ;  allow  me  to  pass  directly,  or  I  shall  ring  and  summon  the 
waiter." 

"You'd  better  not,"  returned  D'Almayne  drily,  "  for  that  is  the 
signal  agreed  on — for  him  instantly  to  fetch  a  policeman." 

The  stranger  glanced  towards  the  door,  on  which  D'Almayne 
quietly  produced  the  key,  and  when  it  had  caught  his  eye  replaced  it 
in  his  pocket ;  he  then  stretched  his  hand,  with  a  hesitating  and 
uncertain  action,  towards  a  stout  stick  on  which  he  carried  his 
valise;  but  D'AlmasTie  drew  from  the  breast  pocket  of  his  surtout 
the  beautifully  finished  little  revolving  pistol  which  he  always 
carried,  and,  having  somewhat  ostentatiously  displayed  it  before  the 
eyes  of  the  individual  he  was  thus  browbeating,  returned  it  to  its 
place  of  concealment,  as  the  other  with  a  sullen  dogged  look  replaced 
his  stick,  and  murmiu-ed, — 

"  Well,  Mr.  D'Almayne,  supposing  you  do  happen  to  recognize  me 
indulging  in  a  little  freak — supposing  I  have  disguised  myself  the 
better  to  cany  out  a  little  intrigue  of  my  own,  why  should  that  so 
greatly  surprise  you  ?  I  do  not  think  you  have  ever  found  me  al^sent 
from  my  post  when  business  required  me ;  you  must  be  aware  I  have 


31G  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

the  interest  of  the  establishment  as  much  at  heart  as  any  of  the 
parties  connected  with  it ;    when  they  begjin  to  phiy   to-night  in 

J Street,  my  frolic  will  be  over,  and  I  shall  be  in  my  proper 

place." 

"  I  think  it's  highly  probable  you  will,  always  supposing  that  place 
to  be  a  cell  in  Pentonville  prison,  or,  as  you  lodge  in  Westminster 
the  Penitentiary,  perhaps;  but  it  strikes  me,  that  if  I  had  not 
fortunately  met  you,  you  would  at  that  hour  have  been  tossing  about 
in  St.  George's  Channel — as  I  happen  to  know  you  have  taken  your 
passage  in  a  New  York  packet,  which  is  to  sail  at  eight  this  evening." 
As  D'Almayne  spoke,  he  fixed  his  piercing  eyes  on  the  individual  he 
addressed,  who,  unable  to  bear  his  scrutinizing  glance,  turned  away 

muttering  with   an    oath,   " him,   I    thought    he  was   safe    in 

Holland."  After  a  moment's  reflection,  he  appeared  to  decide  on  the 
course  best  for  him  to  follow — rmder  what  was  evidently  a  contin- 
gency equally  unforeseen  and  unsatisfactory. 

"  Assuredly  there  never  was  any  one  like  you,  Mr.  D'Almayne,  for 
shrewdness  and  penetration,"  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  apparent  frank- 
ness ;  "  here  am  I  (supposed  by  all  who  take  an  interest  in  my 
whereabouts  to  be  in  London),  in  a  disguise  in  which  my  own 
mother  (the  poor  soul  has  been  dead  these  twenty  years)  would  not 
have  recognized  me ;  at  the  first  glance  you  penetrate  it,  and  by 
intuition  apj)ear  to  have  discovered  my  intentions.  How  you  have 
tracked  me,  or  whether  you  have  met  me  by  accident,  I  am  unable  to 
divine  ;  but,  as  you  have  discovered  me,  I  think  it  is  best  to  be  frank 
with  you  and  to  throw  myseK  on  your  generosity — confident  that 
you  will  deal  leniently  with  youi*  old  associate,  if  I  may  venture  to 
use  the  term,  though,  perhaps,  your  faithful  follower  would  be  more 
true  ;  for  I  am  well  aware  how  such  talent  as  yours  raises  you  above 
us  plodding  poor  fellows.  But  I  will  make  a  clean  breast  to  you, 
sir.  The  fact  is,  I  am  no  longer  young,  scarcely  still  middle-aged, 
and  the  life  I  have  been  for  so  many  years  engaged  in  is  a  hazardous 
and  exhausting  one.  I  have  been  a  frugal  and  careful  man,  and  I 
do  not  scruple  to  tell  you,  sir,  that  I  have  contrived  to  save  a  few 
hundred  pounds.  Well,  sir,  I  have  for  some  time  wished  to  leave 
England  and  settle  in  America,  where  I  am  unknown,  and  might 
begin  the  world  afresh— in  some  quieter  and  more  respectable  line  of 
life;  so  I  thought  I  would  avoid  all  the  difficulties  and  all  the 
troubles  which,  none  are  better  aware  than  you,  sir,  would  attend  my 
quitting  London  just  at  this  time,  by  taking  French  leave,  and 
setting  off  in  disguise  and  under  a  feigned  name,  hoping  that  in 
Mr.  Maxwell,  the  traveller  for  a  Manchester  cotton  firm,  no  one 
would  recognize  Le  Roux,  the  croupier;  and  now,  sir,  having 
told  you  all,  I  throw  myself  on  your  generosity  not  to  attempt 
(though  I  see  no  pretext  on  which  you  could  legally  do  it)  to  detain 
me." 

While  Le  Roux  had  been  making  this  statement,  which  he  did 
with  the  air  of  a  man  convinced  against  his  Avill  that  the  only  course 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  347 

left  open  to  him  is  to  declai-e  the  whole  truth,  come  what  may  of  it, 
D'Almayne  had  taken  a  pencil  from  his  pocket,  with  which  he  had 
been  writing  certain  calculations  on  the  back  of  a  card.  As  soon  as 
the  other  had  concluded,  he  observed  quietly, — 

"  I  have  been  making  a  rough  estimate  of  all  the  available  cash  on 
which  you  could  lay  your  hand,  and  it  appears  to  me  that,  owing  to 
my  folly  in  resting  contented  with  the  belief  that  it  was  your  interest 
to  be  honest,  you  have  at  least  ^15,000  in  that  leathern  case  of  yours 
— a  sum  quite  sufficient  to  tempt  you  to  bolt,  esi^ecially  at  a  time 
when  you  fancied  I  was  safely  out  of  your  way.    I  make  it  out  thus  : 

the  establishment  in  J Street  has  never  less  than  ,£5000  ready  to 

pay  all  demands ;  to  that,  of  coiu'se,  you  have  luilimited  access,  and 
have  availed  yourself  of  it.  Then  comes  the  Overland  Route  Rail- 
road speculation ;  Guillemard  writes  me  word  that  the  shares  are 
going  off  tolerably  fast,  and  that  something  like  ■£  10,000  in  hard  cash 
has  been  paid  into  our  bankers;  a  cheque  signed  by  two  of  the 
directors  would  enable  you  to  draw  out  the  whole  amount  at  any 
moment— your  own  signature  as  Herr  Yondenthaler,  the  Belgium 
capitalist,  provides  for  one,  and  the  other  would  offer  little  difficulty 
to  a  man  of  your  talent  and  experience.  I  have  so  strong  a  convic- 
tion that,  in  consequence  of  my  absence,  you  will  have  done  me  the 
honour  to  select  my  name,  that  it  is  upon  a  charge  of  foi-gery  I 
intend  to  have  you  apprehended,  and  to  take  you  up  to  London  in 
my  company  and  that  of  a  policeman." 

During  this  speech  the  varying  expression  on  Le  Roitx's  face 
would  have  formed  an  interesting  study  to  the  physiognomist  or  the 
artist — at  first,  assumed  indifference,  changing  to  surprise,  anxiety, 
and  ill-concealed  alarm— then  astonishment  and  fear,  merging  in  a 
state  of  bewildered  terror,  which  again  gave  place  to  an  astute  subtle 
look,  as  an  idea  occurred  to  him  which  might  yet  interpose  to  save 
him  from  the  utter  ruin  to  which  the  supernatural  discovery,  as  it 
appeared  to  him,  of  his  intended  and  partially  executed  villainy 
exposed  him.  As  soon  as  D  Almayne  had  ended,  Le  Rous  turned  to 
him,  and  said  in  a  low  calm  tone, — 

"  You  are,  without  any  exception,  Mr.  D'Almayne,  the  cleverest 
man,  for  jovlv  years,  that  I  have  ever  met  with  in  oiu-  profession.  I 
don't  say  it  to  flatter  you,  sir ;  but  I  say  it  because  it  is  my  deliberate 
conviction.  One  of  your  strong  points  is  your  clear  good  sense,  and 
it  is  to  that  I  am  now  about  to  appeal.  You  have,  how  I  cannot 
divine,  got  me  completely  in  your  power,  and,  knowing  or  svispecting 
all  you  say  or  do,  it  is  useless  for  me  to  attempt  to  deceive  you ;  it  is 
clear  you  can  ruin  nae  if  you  choose ;  but  how  will  it  advantage  you 
to  do  so  ?  or,  rather,  how  can  you  expose  me  without  exciting  a  host 
of  unpleasant  inquiries  about  yourself  ?    I  presume  you  scarcely 

wish    your    connection    with    the    gaming-house    in   J Street 

published  to  the  world  at  large,  nor  would  you  like  too  much  revealed 
concerning  the  private  history  of  the  directors  and  general  manage- 
ment of  the  railway  company,  and  yet  I  don't  eee  how  you  could 


318  HARRY   COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

pLace  me  in  the  hands  of  justice  without  my  enlightening'  the  public 
on  some  of  these  points.  As  I  am  sure  you  are  aware  of  the  force  of 
these  remarks,  I  need  say  no  more;  but  I  put  it  to  you,  as  a  sensible 
man  of  the  world,  will  it  not  be  better  for  me  to  pay  you  that  ^1000, 
which,  I  dare  say,  you  can  remember,  I  am  indebted  to  you,  for 
'  value  received,'  we'll  say,  and  for  you  to  forget  that  you  happened 
to  meet  me  here  to-day  ?  "  As  he  spoke,  he  fixed  his  shaii^  cunning 
glance  upon  D'Almayne,  as  though  he  would  fain  read  his  inmost 
thoughts ;  but  even  to  such  an  old  hand  as  Le  Roux  the  gambler, 
Horace's  expression  was  a  sealed  book.  But  he  was  not  long  in 
doubt  as  to  the  effect  of  his  appeal ;  for  in  his  usual  tone  of  calm 
sarcasm,  Horace  replied, — 

"  Cleverly  piit,  Monsieur  Le  Roux ;  but  there  are  two  important 
flaws  in  your  argument.  In  the  first  place,  your  ofEer  proves  the 
truth  of  my  suspicions,  only  that,  as  you  are  not  usually  famous  for 
the  liberality  of  your  disposition,  its  amount  satisfies  me  that  I  have 
rather  under  than  oven-ated  the  sum  of  which  you  have  contrived  to 
gain  possession.  As  to  any  accusations  you  can  bring  against  me, 
I  care  little  or  nothing  for  them ;  they  may  be  true,  biit  you  have 
damaged  your  own  character  so  deeply  that  no  one  will  believe  you. 
You  may  assert  that  I  am  part  proprietor  of  the  gambling-house, 
and  you  may  call  Guillemard  to  prove  it ;  I  shall  deny  the  fact,  and 
he  will  back  my  denial.  You  will  assei't,  also,  that  I  have  got  up 
this  nefarious  railroad  speculation  in  order  to  levant  with  the  capital 
as  soon  as  I  could  obtain  a  sufl&cient  amovmt  to  gi-atify  my  cupidity ; 
I  shall  reply  that  you  have  done  what  you  accuse  me  of  intending  to 
do,  and  that  I  have  been  the  means  of  bringing  you  to  justice.  You 
will  adduce,  in  proof  of  your  assei*tion,  the  fact  that  I  introduced 
you  as  a  director  under  the  feigned  name  of  Yondenthaler ;  I  shall 
rebut  this  accusation  by  declaring  that  I  had  always  known  you  as 
Yondenthaler,  which  I  believe  to  l>e  your  true  name ;  and  that  your 
identity  with  Le  Roux,  the  croupier,  was  never  even  suspected  by 
me.  Of  course,  in  these  instances,  I  shall  be  swearing  falsely ;  you, 
truly  ;  nevertheless,  I  shall  come  off  with  flying  colours,  and  you  will 
be  transpoi-ted.  '  Telle  est  la  vie ! '  Would  you  oblige  me  by  ringing 
that  bell  twice,  for  the  laoliceman  ?  " 

The  transition,  from  the  assurance  of  successful  cunning,  to  self- 
distriist,  anxiety,  rage,  despair,  which  flitted  across  the  sharp  but 
expressive  face  of  Le  Roux,  showed  how  strongly  D'Almayne's  words 
had  agitated  him.  For  a  moment,  he  stood  trembling  in  every  limb, 
clenching  his  hands  until  the  nails  dug  into  the  flesh ;  then,  carried 
away  by  the  impulse  of  his  overpowering  terror,  he  flung  himself  at 
Horace  D'Almayne's  feet,  exclaiming, — 

"  For  God's  sake,  Mr.  D'Almayne,  have  pity  on  me  !  I  am  an  old 
man,  sir ;  older  than  I  seem.  I  am  sixty -five  next  month ;  I  am, 
indeed ;  and  I  have  led  such  a  wretched,  miserable  life !  I  have 
always  been  somebody's  tool,  somebody's  slave.  Sir,  I  have  been  for 
years  the  victim  of  a  monomania  :  as  a  very  young  man,  I  lost  every 


•J«i,for 


V 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  349 

halfpenny  I  possessed  (and  that  was  enounrh  to  have  secured  me  a 
competence  in  some  i-espectable  line  of  life)  at  the  gaminc^-table ; 
and  since  that  time  I  have  been  haunted  by  the  idea  that,  by  intensely 
studying,  and  constantly  calculating  the  chances,  I  should  discover 
some  infallible  system  by  which  I  could  not  only  retrieve  my  losses, 
but  realize  a  large  fortune.  Over  and  over  again  have  I  tried,  and 
over  and  over  again  have  I  failed;  until,  at  last,  experience  has 
brought  some  little  wisdom,  even  to  such  a  miserable  fool  as  I  have 
proved  myself,  and  I  have  given  iip  all  attempts  at  discovering  a 
system  ;  but,  sir,  when  this  last  hope  failed  me,  the  little  honesty 
I  had  left  deserted  me,  and  you  have  divined  the  result.  Mr. 
D'Almayne,  I  have  a  wife  and  three  little  innocent  children  at 
Biiissels ;  they  were  to  join  me  in  America  if  this  attempt  (which 
they  only  know  of  as  a  mercantile  speculation)  had  proved  successful. 
If  I  am  sent  out  of  this  country  as  a  convicted  felon,  it  will  break 
my  wife's  heart ;  and  my  little  children  will  be  left  to  starve.  Mr. 
D'Almayne,  for  the  love  of  Heaven,  have  pity,  if  not  on  me,  on 
them ! " 

During  this  appeal,  Horace  remained  in  an  easy  and  fashionable 
attitude,  with  his  back  against  the  closed  door  which  detained  his 
captive,  and  the  points  of  his  white  and  taper  fingers  inserted  in  his 
trousers  pockets ;  at  its  conclusion,  he  said,  in  his  usual  cool  and 
indifferent  manner,  "I  think,  my  good  friend,  you  began  this 
harangue  with  a  complimentary  appeal  to  my  common  sense ;  not 
wishing  to  discredit  your  flattering  opinion,  let  me  ask  you,  is  it 
likely  that,  having  toiled  and  schemed  for  the  last  twelve  months  to 
bring  these  two  projects  of  the  gambling-house  and  the  railroad 
company  into  working  (and  paying)  order,  I  should  allow  you  to  go 
quietly  to  America,  carrying  with  you  the  fruits  of  my  labour,  fore- 
thought, and  sagacity,  merely  because,  when  your  last  subterfuge 
has  failed  you,  you  whine  out  a  beggar's  petition  about  the  love  of 
Heaven  and  a  wife  and  three  children  ?  Bah !  it  is  childish,  it  is 
really  too  absurd !  Still,  for  old  acquaintance  sake,  I  do  not  want 
to  be  hard  on  you;  and  if  you  will  do  exactly  as  I  shall  propose, 
perhaps  there  may  still  remain  some  middle  course,  by  which  such  an 
uncomfortable  result  as  transportation  for  life  may  be  spared  you. 
What  say  you  ?  "  Poor  wretch !  his  crime  discovered,  its  fearful 
penalty  awaiting  him,  and  the  "  tender  mercies  of  the  wicked  "  his 
only  hope  and  refuge — with  remorse  for  the  past  and  desjmir  for 
the  future,  rending  his  very  heart  asunder — what  remained  for  him 
but  to  give  himself  up,  soul  and  body,  as  the  dupe,  tool,  and  agent 
of  Horace  D'Almayne? 

Long  and  earnest  was  their  conference:  the  valise  was  opened; 
money  and  papers  produced  and  examined ;  accotmts  gone  into ; 
arrangements  for  the  present,  and  schemes  for  the  future,  discussed 
and  agreed  upon.  The  result  may  be  summed  up  in  a  few  words  : 
when  the  New  York  packet  sailed,  at  eight  o'clock  that  evening,  Le 
Roux  had  taken  possession  of  his  berth,  with  his  valise  considerably 


350  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

lightened ;  and  Horace  D'Almayne,  having  seen  his  associate  safely 
out  of  the  country,  departed  by  the  last  ti-ain  which  left  for  London, 
some  ten  thousand  pounds  richer  than  he  had  been  on  his  arrival 
that  moi-ning  in  the  good  city  of  Liverpool ! 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

HORACE   WEATHEBS   THE   STORM. 

Mr.  Crane  obtained  nothing  by  his  visit  to  the  city,  except  a  bad 
cold,  caught  in  a  draughty  omnibiis,  in  which  he  rode  because  he  was 
too  stingy  to  indulge  himself  with  a  cab ;  all  the  men  he  wished  to 
see  were  out  of  town,  or  attending  some  special  appointment,  and  no 
information  could  he  obtain  in  regard  to  the  seciu-ity  of  his  propei-ty 
invested  in  the  "Direct  Overland  Route  to  India  Railway  "  shares, 
so  he  i-eturned  home  in  a  worse  temper  than  any  in  which  Kate  had 
yet  seen  him,  and  led  her  such  a  life  of  misery,  during  the  evening, 
by  means  of  a  process  termed,  in  the  patois  of  back  kitchens  and 
washhouses,  "  nagging  "  at  her,  that  when  she  retired  to  her  own 
room,  at  ten  o'clock,  she  was  so  utterly  worn  out,  that  she  sat  down 
and  cried,  from  sheer  nervous  depression.  If  Arthur  Hazlehurst 
could  have  seen  her  then,  he  would  scarcely  have  recognized  in  that 
shrinking,  trembling,  spirit-broken  woman,  the  proud,  cold,  haughty, 
beautiful  Kate,  who  had  won  his  heart  but  to  trample  on  it  in  her 
career  of  worldly  ambition ; — if  he  had  heard  her  broken,  faltering 
prayer  that  death  might  soon  relieve  her  from  the  daily,  hourly 
martyrdom  of  striving  to  render  respect  and  obedience  to  a  man 
whom  she  did  not  hate,  only  because  hate  involves  some  degree  of 
equality,  and  Mr.  Crane  she  too  utterly  despised  ; — if  Arthur  could 
have  witnessed  her  total  prostration,  mental  and  bodily,  he  would 
scarcely  have  retained  his  hard  thoughts  of  her,  although  the  gentler 
ones  which  might  have  replaced  them  would,  in  their  way,  have  been 
exquisitely  painful  to  him. 

The  next  morning,  Mr.  Crane's  cold  was  worse,  and  Kate  recom- 
mended him  to  dispatch  a  note  to  his  man  of  business,  asking  him 
to  come  to  Park  Lane ;  which  advice,  being  good  and  sensible,  was, 
of  course,  rejected,  and  Kate  was  asked  whether,  not  content  with 
impoverishing  him  by  her  extravagance  and  by  the  burden  of 
supporting  her  i^auper  relatives,  she  wished  to  ruin  him  quite,  by 
inducing  him  to  neglect  the  management  of  his  property.    Having 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  351 

delivered  himself  of  this  kind  and  judiciotia  remark,  so  well  calculated 
to  call  forth  and  rivet  the  affection  of  the  wife  of  his  bosom,  this 
noble  specimen  of  "Man,  the  great  master  of  all,"  took  'bus  for  the 
city,  to  clip  the  wings  which,  he  feared,  his  riches  were  about  to  make 
for  themselves.  His  man  of  business  was  again  "  in  court,"  and 
tincome-at-able  ;  but  when  he  reached  the  office  of  the  "  Overland 
Route  to  India  Railway  Company,"  he  found  there  Mr.  Bonus 
Nugget  in  as  near  an  approach  to  a  rage  as  was  at  all  compatible 
with  his  high  standing  and  intense  respectability  ;  a  frame  of  mind 
in  which  Mr.  Crane  speedily  sympathized,  when  the  disastrous 
intelligence  was  communicated  to  him  that  a  sum  of  nearly  ^18,000 
had  been  drawn  out  of  their  bankers'  hands,  in  the  joint  names  of 
Horace  D'Ahnayne  and  Herr  Vondenthaler,  the  former  being 
abroad,  and  no  trace  to  be  discovered  of  the  latter.  Poor  Mr. 
Crane!  he  loved  his  money  dearly,  he  could  not  bear  to  part 
with  it  even  to  pay  a  bill ;  and,  as  to  giving  it  in  charity  ("  fooling 
it  away"  was  the  term  he  applied  to  such  a  senseless  squandering), 
that  was  an  unbusiness-like  weakness  of  which  he  had  never  been 
guilty  ;  and  now  to  have  his  idol  thus  rudely  torn  from  him,  oh  !  it  was 
too  cruel.  If  Nugget  had  not  been  present,  he  would  have  sat  down 
and  cried,  for  his  sympathy  with,  and  pity  for,  himself  was  un- 
bounded ;  but,  as  he  was  not  alone,  he  swore  instead,  for  the  sake  of 
appearances  ;  but  he  did  not  swear  well :  for  to  anathematize,  "  con 
brio,"  demands  more  energy  than  Mr.  Crane  possessed.  Having 
sworn,  however,  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  he  and  Mr.  Nugget 
went  into  the  affairs  of  the  company  together,  and  really,  according 
to  the  latter  gentleman's  showing,  the  speculation  appeared  to  be 
progressing  so  well,  that  these  ministers  of  Mammon  agreed  the 
defalcation  must  be  made  good  and  the  public  be  kept  in  the  dark  as  to 
aught  being  "rotten  in  the  state  of  Denmark."  So  .strange  and 
mysterious  pi'oceedings  were  entered  upon ;  bills  for  large  sums  of 
money,  drawn  by  Mr.  Nugget  and  endorsed  by  Mr.  Crane,  and  cheques 
bearing  that  gentleman's  signature  were  deposited  with  the  company's 
bankers,  to  replace  the  ^818,000  with  which  Herr  Vondenthaler  had 
eloped ;  also  astiite  detectives  were  placed  on  that  gentleman's  track, 
and  desired  to  look  out  for  Horace  D'Ahnayne,  should  he  venture  to  set 
lais  foot  on  English  soil — an  imprudence  which  Mr.  Crane  declared, 
confidentially,  he  was  sure  he  never  would  be  fool  enoiTgh  to  commit. 
For  once,  however,  that  worthy  man's  sagacity  was  at  fault,  as  he  was 
informed  on  his  retura  home  that  a  gentleman  was  waiting  to  see  him 
in  his  library ;  and  greatly  was  he  astonished,  and  if  the  truth  must 
be  told,  considerably  alarmed  also,  when  the  stranger  proved  to  be 
none  other  than  the  unblushing  Horace  himself.  Thei)*  interview 
was  long,  but  it  ended  much  more  agreeably  than  it  began;  for 
Horace,  first  clearing  himself  from  the  imputation  of  having  had 
any  hand  in  the  railway  company  defalcation  by  proving  that,  at 
the  time  the  cheque  was  drawn  and  presented,  he  was  at  Ostend, 
gradually  elicited  from  Mr.  Crane  the  fact  of  the  anonymous  letter, 


352  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

wliicli,  when  it  was  witli  mneli  reluctance  submitted  to  him,  he  at 
once  recognized  to  be  in  the  handwriting  of  the  perfidiou.s  Vonden- 
thaler.  Having  produced  satisfactory  evidence  of  this  fact  also,  he 
produced  something  still  more  satisfactory,  viz.  certain  bills  promis- 
ing to  pay  on  demand,  at  an  early  date,  the  cash  which  he  had  pro- 
ceeded to  Holland  to  obtain. 

This  palpable  proof  of  his  factotum's  integrity  quieted  all  Mr. 
Crane's  suspicions,  and  D'Almayne  was  fi'om  that  moment  reinstated 
in  his  pati'on's  good  opinion.  But  now,  according  to  his  own  show- 
ing, this  excellent  young  man  was  himself  the  victim  of  circum- 
stances. His  name,  having  been  the  name  selected  by  the  forger 
Vondeuthaler,  he  felt  that  he  ought  to  withdraw  from  the  railway 
company  altogether ;  if  he  remained,  he  should  always  be  an  object 
of  suspicion.  He  knew  the  nature  of  city  capitalists  well;  they  had 
not  all  such  enlightened  views,  such  generous  souls,  as  his  excellent 
friend  Mr.  Crane ;  besides,  he  could  not  reconcile  it  with  his  honour 
to  remain  a  director  withoiit  paying,  in  ready  money,  his  share  of 
the  loss  they  had  sustained  by  the  rascality  of  Vondenthaler — a  man 
who,  he  blushed  to  reflect,  he  had  introduced.  He  would  most 
gladly  pay  his  share  that  minute,  but  he  honestly  confessed  he  had 
not  the  money  ready.  He  knew  what  he  would  do;  he  would  sell 
his  estate  in  Normandy — England  was  the  country  of  his  adoption ; 
if  he  could  not  live  there,  life  woiild  become  a  burden  to  him.  No ; 
he  would  go  to  France,  sell  his  estate,  and  with  the  i^roceeds,  return 
to  redeem  his  honour.  But  it  would  be  at  a  sacrifice ;  he  must  part 
with  his  shares  in  the  Overland  Railway,  shares  that  were  cei-tain  to 
become  so  fine  an  investment:  did  Mr.  Crane  know  anyone  who 
would  like  to  purchase  them  ?  Mr.  Crane  paused,  considered,  and 
then,  in  what  he  considered  to  be  an  off-hand,  indifferent  manner, 
though  eager  rapacity  twinkled  in  his  cunning  eye  and  quivered  on 
his  trembling  lip,  he  replied,  "  If  it  will  be  any  accommodation  to 
you,  D'Almayne,  I  don't  know  that  I  should  object  to  take  your 
shares  myself ;  and,  in  regard  to  your  Normandy  estate,  it  seems  a 
pity  you  should  be  forced  to  sell  it  at  a  time,  perhaps,  when  you  may 
not  obtain  its  pro])er  value.  You  have  the  title  deeds  in  England  ; 
suijpose  we  look  through  them  together.  I  have  lent  you  money  on 
them  already,  and  might  perhaps  be  willing  to  advance  you  more  on 
the  same  terms — six  per  cent.,  I  think  ?  this  would  afford  you  time 
to  look  about  you,  and  to  sell  your  estate,  if  you  must  ]iart  with  it, 
to  better  advantage."  Horace  D'Almayne's  gratitude  was  quite 
touching  to  witness ;  so  was  his  manner  at  dinner,  which  Mr.  Crane 
insisted  upon  his  stopping  to  partake  of.  Kate  was  greatly 
astonished,  and  not  best  pleased,  to  find  him  reinstated  in  his  former 
high  ])osition  in  her  husband's  favour ;  Ijut  he  treated  her  with  such 
respectful  deference,  and  his  conversation  was  so  clever  and 
interesting,  that  it  was  impossible  for  her  not  to  contrast  his  social 
advantages  with  those  of  Mr.  Crane,  which  did  not  gain  by  the 
comparison.     Kate  was  nervous  and  unhappy,  a  state  of  mind  in 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  353 

wliich  kindness,  or  its  i-everse,  is  felt  with  a  morbid  deppt'ee  of 
acuteness ;  and  just  as  much  as  Mr.  Crane's  peevish  imtability 
oppressed  and  annoyed  her,  did  Horace  D'Almayne's  soft  voice, 
polished  manner,  and  considerate  tact  calm  and  soothe  her,  and 
reinvigorate  her  drooping  s])irits.  If  Kate  Crane  had  a  heart  to 
win,  now  was  the  time  to  gain  it.  Horace  D'Almayne  was  by  no 
means  a  tyro  in  such  cases ;  he  perceived  the  situation  at  a  glance  and 
availed  himself  of  it  to  the  utmost.  When  he  rose  to  take  leave,  Kate, 
knowing  to  what  his  departure  would  expose  her,  and  being,  as  we 
have  before  explained,  overwrought  and  ill,  forgot  her  self-control  so 
far  as  to  observe,  "  It  is  vei'y  early ;  are  you  obliged  to  go  so  soon  ?  " 
The  moment  she  had  spoken  the  words  she  would  have  given  worlds 
to  have  recalled  them.  Her  husband's  fretful  observation,  "  Really, 
my  dear,  it's  j)ast  ten  o'clock," — and  D'Almayne's  look  of  triumph, 
ill-concealed  under  the  guise  of  polite,  conventional  regret  at  being 
obliged  to  leave  such  kind  friends,  showed  her  the  indiscretion  of 
which  she  had  been  guilty.  But  ere  she  could  sufficiently  collect 
her  ideas  to  attempt  to  redeem  the  false  step  she  had  made,  Horace 
had  bowed  himself  out.  Then  Mr.  Crane  took  up  his  parable,  and 
drew  a  feeble  pictm-e  of  a  vicious  young  wife,  who,  possessing  a 
sapient,  tender,  and  judicious  husband,  in  the  prime  of  life,  laid 
herself  out  to  attract  the  attentions  of,  if  he  might  be  allowed  the 
expression,  mere  boys,  who,  fortunately  for  her,  had  too  strongly 
innate  ideas  of— yes,  of  propriety  and  morality,  to  avail  themselves 
of  her  very  reprehensible  levity,  &c.,  &c.  Poor  proud  Kate  !  she 
bore  it  all  silently — her  will  was  now  as  strong  for  good  as  it  had 
once  been  for  evil,  and  duty  sealed  her  lips,  though  she  siiffered 
none  the  less  for  her  silence.  Saint  Bartholomew  was  flayed  alive, 
yet  we  nowhere  read  that  the  good  man  was  garruloiis  under  the 
operation.  When  D'Almayne  quitted  Park  Lane  he  returned  to  his 
former  lodgings,  and  taking  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  wrote  the  following 
note  to  the  waiter  at  Liverpool : — 

"  A  well-wisher  of  yours  has  much  pleasure  in  enclosing  for  your 
acceptance  a  ^£10  note ;  should  any  impertinent  inquiries  be  made 
in  regard  to  the  gentlemen  who  have  visited  your  hotel  lately,  he 
feels  sure  you  know  your  duty  too  well,  as  a  faithfiil  servant  of  the 
establishment,  to  reply  to  them  in  any  way  which  might  injure  the 
interests  of  your  employer  or  your  own !  in  which  case  you  shall 
hear  again  from — 

"More  v^^hebe  this  comes  from." 

Having  dispatched  this  Machiavellian  document,  Horace  the 
indefatigable  sought  and  obtained  interviews  with  Guillemard, 
Bonus  Nugget,  and  Captain  O'Brien,  from  all  of  whom  he  obtained 

useful  information ;  then  proceeded  to  the  gaming-house  in  J 

Street,  where  he  found  the  Russian  Prince  Ratrapski,  unprofitably 
sober  and  playing    for    sovereigns    only.    To    him    therefore    he 

A  a 


354  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

devoted  himself  with  so  much  success,  that  between  five  and  six  on 
the  following  morning  the  Russian  was  taken  home  in  a  cab,  con- 
siderably disguised  in  liquor,  having  lost  above  .£20,000  to  the  bank. 
It  is  a  laudable  practice  of  some  pastors  to  exhort  the  members  of 
their  flock  to  chew  the  cud  of  reflection  before  they  retire  to  rest,  and 
so  to  strike  a  balance  of  the  good  and  evil  deeds  which,  in  the  course 
of  that  day's  transactions,  they  may  have  performed.  Now, 
although  Horace  D'Almayne  had  either  no  conscience  at  all,  or  one 
of  such  an  elastic  material  that  its  expansive  limits  were  still  un- 
discovered ;  although,  moreover,  if  he  belonged  to  a  flock,  it  must 
have  been  composed  of  the  very  blackest  sheep  known  to  zoology,  he 
nevertheless  conformed  to  this  good  habit  of  self-examination  ;  and 
on  the  night,  or  rather  morning  in  question,  his  meditations  assumed 
some  such  shape  as  the  following : — 

"  Voyons,  Horace,  mon  ami !  Tou  have  not  been  slothful,  what 
have  you  accomplished  ?  the  affair  of  Le  Roux  safely  got  over, 
without  the  fact  of  our  having  encountered  each  other  being 
suspected ;  good  so  far  :  but  the  interview  might  transpire  at 
any  moment :  I  dare  not  remain  here  very  many  days,  scarcely 
hours  longei' — Crane,  ha !  ha !  there  is  no  pleasure  in  duping 
him,  he  is  so  dense  a  fool ;  but  if  there  is  no  pleasure  there  is 
pi'ofit,  which  suits  my  book  equally  well — what  between  the 
shares  and  the  Normandy  mortgage,  I  shall  draw  ^5000  of  him ; 
to-morrow  morning  I  must  obtain  the  money. — Then  the 
Russian ;  I  did  that  neatly ;  my  share  will  be  .£7000 ;  though  I 
shall  claim  more,  for  it  was  all  my  management — yes,  when  I 
turn  my  back  upon  this  triste  and  mercenary  country,  I  shall  be 
able  to  take  at  least  ^£30,000  with  me."  He  paused,  reflected 
for  some  minutes,  then  continued,  "  With  such  a  capital  as  that 
to  start  with  in  America  a  man  with  a  head  on  his  shoulders 
may  do  and  become  almost  anything,  president  perhaps,  who 
knows  ?  She  is  ambitious,  I  can  read  it  in  her  haughty  glance, 
her  queenly  step ;  such  a  career  might  tempt  her ! "  Again  he 
mused,  but  the  working  of  his  features  showed  how  deeply  his 
feelings  were  excited.  Rousing  himself  with  a  start,  he  ex- 
claimed passionately,  "  I  shall  fail  with  her,  I  know ;  I  feel  it ! 
— she  does  not  love  me,  nor,  excepting  at  times  when  I  make  her  feel 
my  power,  does  she  even  hate  me ;  I  wish  she  did,  for  then  I  should 
have  more  hope — why  should  she  be  so  indifferent  to  me  ?  I  have 
played  my  game  well  and  carefully  ;  if  I  had  it  to  play  over  again,  I 
do  not  see  how  I  coiild  mend  my  hand.  That  declaration,  perhaps, 
was  premature ;  yet  with  any  other  woman,  though  it  failed  at  the 
time,  it  wo  aid  have  told  afterwards.  I  wonder  whether  she  had  any 
attachment  before  she  married  Crane  ?  that  cousin  Arthur  Hazle- 
hurst,  perhaps ;  if  so,  she  loves  him  still ;  in  that  case,  I  need  not 
seek  far  for  revenge,  even  if  she  again  disdains  my  iDassion.  Married 
to  Crane  and  loving  her  cousin,  she  must  bear  about  a  living  hell  in 
her  own  bosom.    Sti'ange  the  power  she  has  over  me ;    I  really  and 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  355 

honestly  believe  I  am  as  completely  in  love  with  her  as  if  I  were  a 
green  boy  of  eighteen  !  if  I  had  known  her  five  years  sooner,  before  I 
became  so  thoroughly  and  hopelessly  involved,  I  might  have  been 
very  different,  who  can  say  ?  that  old  man  Le  Roux  was  right,  the 
life  of  an  adventiu-er  is  an  unsatisfactory  affair,  either  to  look  back 
upon,  or  worse  still,  to  look  forward  to ;  but  so  it  is  with  eveiy  phase 
of  life  when  you  come  to  know  it  well  and  examine  it  closely  ; — for 
what  are  we  placed  here  ?  nay,  what  are  we  ourselves  ?  have  we  lived 
before  ?  shall  we  live  again  ?  can  spirit  exist  without  matter  ?  who 
knows  ?  the  religionist  ?  bah  !  a  set  either  of  feeble-minded  enthu- 
siasts, bigoted  to  childish  superstitions,  or  canting  hypocrites,  who 
assume  piety  as  a  cloak  beneath  which  to  conceal  their  vices,  as  the 
devil  is  said  to  lurk  behind  the  cross.  Who  then  ?  philosophers,  meta- 
physicians, your  men  of  science  P  solemn  pedants,  dreamy  mystics, 
vain  fools,  who,  because  they  have  invented  a  rxishlight,  fancy  they  can 
illuminate  the  universe — ah !  charlatans,  all  of  them ;  an  adventurer's 
career  is  preferable  to  a  life  devoted  to  such  dreary  mummeiies, 
I  may  succeed  with  the  fascinating  Kate  yet ;  she  was  singularly 
amiable  last  night !  and  if  so,  Horace, '  mon  ami,'  the  line  you  have 
selected  will  not  prove  such  an  unprofitable  one,  after  all." 


CHAPTER  LX. 

ANXIETY. 

Harry  Coverdale  was  blessed  with  an  iron  constitution,  or,  as  he 
would  himself  have  expressed  it,  the  good  keep  and  training  he  had 
come  in  for  ever  since  he  was  a  colt  had  put  real  hard  flesh  and  muscle 
on  him,  so  that  take  him  when  you  would,  he  was  always  in  work- 
ing order.  Thus,  although  the  hurried  journey  he  had  performed 
with  a  broken  arm  and  a  series  of  bruises  from  head  to  foot  would 
have  stretched  most  men  on  a  bed  of  sickness,  and  although  Scalpel 
Gouger,  M.D.,  elongated  his  already  sufficiently  lengthened  visage  on 
beholding  his  condition,  and  prophesied  results  of  which  lock-jaw 
was  by  no  means  one  of  the  most  terrible,  Harry  yet  experienced  no 
ill  effects  from  his  imprudence.  His  stiffness  wore  off  after  a  day  or 
two,  the  biniises  disappeared  one  by  one,  and  the  broken  bone  began  to 
reunite  as  quickly  as  in  the  nature  of  things  was  possible.  But 
although  his  bodily  ailments  gave  him  little  cause  for  uneasiness,  his 
mind  remained  a  prey  to  anxiety,  grief,  and  remorse  ;  for  Alice,  his 
young  wife — the  depth  and  strength  of  his  love  for  whom  he  became 
painfully  aware  of,  now  that,  as  it  appeared,  he  was  about  to  lose  her 


354 


HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 


devoted  himself  with  so  much  success,  that  between  five  and  six  on 
the  following  morning  the  Russian  was  taken  home  in  a  cab,  con- 
siderably disguised  in  liquor,  having  lost  above  ^20,000  to  the  bank. 
It  is  a  laudable  practice  of  some  pastors  to  exhort  the  members  of 
their  flock  to  chew  the  cud  of  reflection  before  they  retii-e  to  rest,  and 
so  to  strike  a  balance  of  the  good  and  evil  deeds  which,  in  the  course 
of  that  day's  transactions,  they  may  have  performed.  Now, 
although  Horace  D'Almayne  had  either  no  conscience  at  all,  or  one 
of  such  an  elastic  material  that  its  expansive  limits  were  still  un- 
discovered ;  although,  moi'eover,  if  he  belonged  to  a  flock,  it  must 
have  been  composed  of  the  very  blackest  sheep  known  to  zoology,  he 
nevertheless  conformed  to  this  good  habit  of  self-examination  ;  and 
on  the  night,  or  rather  morning  in  question,  his  meditations  assumed 
some  such  shape  as  the  following : — 

"  Voyons,  Horace,  mon  ami !  Tou  have  not  been  slothful,  what 
have  you  accomplished?  the  affair  of  Le  Roux  safely  got  over, 
without  the  fact  of  our  having  encountered  each  other  being 
suspected ;  good  so  far  :  but  the  interview  might  transpire  at 
any  moment:  I  dare  not  remain  here  very  many  days,  scarcely 
hours  longer — Crane,  ha !  ha !  there  is  no  pleasure  in  duping 
him,  he  is  so  dense  a  fool ;  but  if  there  is  no  pleasure  there  is 
pi'ofit,  which  suits  my  book  equally  well — what  between  the 
shares  and  the  Normandy  mortgage,  I  shall  draw  .£5000  of  him ; 
to-morrow  morning  I  must  obtain  the  money. — Then  the 
Russian;  I  did  that  neatly;  my  share  will  be  .£7000;  though  I 
shall  claim  more,  for  it  was  all  my  management — yes,  when  I 
turn  my  back  upon  this  triste  and  mercenary  counti-y,  I  shall  be 
able  to  take  at  least  ^£30,000  with  me."  He  paused,  reflected 
for  some  minutes,  then  continued,  "  With  such  a  capital  as  that 
to  start  with  in  America  a  man  with  a  head  on  his  shoulders 
may  do  and  become  almost  anything,  president  perhaps,  who 
knows  ?  She  is  ambitious,  I  can  read  it  in  her  haughty  glance, 
her  queenly  step ;  such  a  career  might  tempt  her ! "  Again  he 
mused,  but  the  working  of  his  features  showed  how  deeply  his 
feelings  were  excited.  Rousing  himself  with  a  start,  he  ex- 
claimed passionately,  "I  shall  fail  with  her,  I  know;  I  feel  it! 
— she  does  not  love  me,  nor,  excepting  at  times  when  I  make  her  feel 
my  power,  does  she  even  hate  me ;  I  wish  she  did,  for  then  I  should 
have  more  hope — why  should  she  be  so  indifferent  to  me  P  I  have 
played  my  game  well  and  carefully  ;  if  I  had  it  to  play  over  again,  I 
do  not  see  how  I  could  mend  my  hand.  That  declaration,  perhaps, 
was  premature ;  yet  with  any  other  woman,  though  it  failed  at  the 
time,  it  would  have  told  afterwards.  I  wonder  whether  she  had  any 
attachment  before  she  man-ied  Crane  ?  that  cousin  Arthur  Hazle- 
hurst,  perhaps ;  if  so,  she  loves  him  still;  in  that  case,  I  need  not 
seek  far  for  revenge,  even  if  she  again  disdains  my  passion.  MaiTied 
to  Crane  and  loving  her  cousin,  she  must  bear  about  a  living  hell  in 
her  own  bosom.    Sti'ange  the  power  she  has  over  me ;    I  really  and 


!••*• 


9i 

4*> 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OP  IT  357 

to  recoernize  him,  she  no  longer  evinced  any  repugnance  on  his 
approach.  Her  fits  of  delirium  became  less  violent  and  frequent,  but 
she  appeared  to  be  gradually  sinking  into  a  state  of  prostration, 
mental  and  bodily,  which  to  the  eye  of  the  medical  man  was  even 
more  alarming.  Her  next  fancy  was,  that  Harry  was  her  brother 
Arthm- ;  she  talked  to  him  of  old  scenes  and  recollections,  of  their 
childhood,  and  half  bx-oke  poor  Han-y's  heart  by  deploring  in  the 
most  pathetic  terms  the  loss  of  her  husband's  affection,  which  she 
declared  Arabella  Crofton  had  stolen  from  her. 

"  Ah,  Arthur,"  she  would  exclaim,  "  it  is  cniel  of  her,  because,  you 
know,  I  loved  him  so  very,  very  much !  Until  I  saw  him  I  meant 
never  to  marry ;  I  fancied  I  could  not  bear  to  leave  dearest  mamma, 
and  Emily,  and  Tom,  and  all  of  you.  But  it  was  of  no  use  :  he  was 
80  good  and  kind,  and  brave,  and  handsome ;  and  though  he  was  a 
little  rough  at  first,  I  soon  saw  what  a  noble,  gentle  heart  his  rough 
manner  concealed,  and  when  I  foiind  he  loved  me  (for  he  did  love  me 
once,  Arthur),  how  could  I,  how  could  any  girl,  help  loving  him  with 
her  whole  soul  ?  " 

Poor  Hari-y,  as  she  thus  wildly  talked,  would  lean  over  and  kiss 
her  pale,  worn  cheeks,  and  tell  her  he  was  her  o^vn  loving  husband, 
and  doted  on  her,  and  her  only, — that  he  never  cared,  and  never 
would  care,  for  any  other  woman,  and  she  would  smile  faintly,  and 
reply, — 

"  No,  Aithur,  Harry  would  not  say  that ;  he  loved  her  before  he 
knew  me,  over  in  Italy  ;  Alfred  Courtland  told  me  all  about  it, — how 
they  ran  away  together,  and  all." 

As  she  uttered  these  words  Coverdale  started,  and  a  shade  passed 
across  his  brow ;  not  heeding  it,  Alice  continued, — 

"  Oh !  she  is  a  dreadful  woman,  and  so  clever !  all  the  foolish  things 
I  did  to  pique  Han-y,  in  order  to  regain  his  affection,  she  showed 
them  up  to  him  in  a  false  light,  and  made  him  believe  me  as  wicked 
as  herself,  and  so  she  stole  his  love  away  from  poor,  poor  Alice ; " 
then  she  would  turn  her  face  from  him,  and  wail  feebly  like  an  un- 
happy child.  At  other  times  she  would  burst  into  the  most  violent 
self-reproaches. 

"  Yes,  I  deserve  it  all,"  she  would  exclaim ;  "  I  deserve  to  lose  his 
affection ;  what  right  had  I  to  expect  him  to  give  up  all  his  manly 
sports,  which  had  made  him  so  brave  and  strong,  to  sit  at  home  with 
a  poor  foolish  girl  like  me,  who  have  not  even  wit  enough  to  amuse 
him  ;  I  who  should  have  been  too  proud  even  of  his  slightest  notice, 
and  to  thwart  him  and  try  to  make  him  do  foolish  and  wrong  things, 
and  to  lose  my  temper,  and  grieve  and  wrong  him, — oh  !  how  wrong 
and  wicked  of  me  ! — I  must  have  been  mad  to  do  it ;  and  now  he  has 
left  me,  gone  with  Arabella  Crofton  to  Italy,  and  I  shall  never  see 
him  again,  never,  never ! "  and  then  she  would  break  off  and  resume 
her  weeping. 

And  so  the  weary  days  passed  on ;  Emily,  who  had  come  over  as 
soon  as  she  had  heard  of  her   eister's    illness,  was  an  indefati- 


358  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

gable  nurse,  and  slie  and  Harry  sat  up  with  the  patient  on  alternate 
nitjhts,  Coverdale  having  on  one  occasion  discovered  the  hired  nurse 
fast  asleep  when  she  ought  to  have  been  wide  awake  and  giving  Alice 
her  medicine.  As  soon  as  his  arm  ceased  to  cause  him  such  violent 
Ijain,  Harry's  attendance  by  his  wife's  bedside  became  unremitting, 
and  night  after  night  he  sent  Emily  to  bed,  and  remained  watching 
Alice's  broken  slumbers,  or  to  the  best  of  his  power  soothing  her, 
during  her  fits  of  delirious  excitement.  Could  those  who  had  known 
Coverdale  as  the  rough  and  eager  sportsman,  or  the  just,  but  stem 
and  inflexible,  magistrate,  have  seen  him  then,  as  (heedless  of  the 
pain  of  his  injured  arm)  he  tended  with  all  a  woman's  devotion,  and 
more  than  woman's  strength  and  judgment,  the  sick  couch  of  his  (as 
at  times  he  feared)  dying  wife,  they  would  have  been  unable  to 
recognize  the  same  individual  whose  nature  they,  in  their  hasty 
judgment,  had  so  wholly  mistaken.  His  dying  wife !  ah !  how  the 
idea  haunted  him.  Alice,  his  loved  one,  would  die ;  she  would  be 
taken  from  him  while  they  were  both  so  young,  and  he  would  have  to 
live  on  during  long,  dreary  years  alone  ! — alone  !  yes,  but  how  bitterly 
did  he  feel  the  hope-crushing  significance  of  that  cruel  word !  true, 
his  married  life  had  been  a  somewhat  stormy  one,  still  it  had  taught 
him  the  charm  of  that  spiritual  companionship  with  a  beloved  and 
loving  woman,  without  which  a  man's  best  nature  remains  incom- 
pletely developed.  To  feel  a  deep,  true,  and  unselfish  affection  for 
an  object  worthy  of  so  precious  a  boon  raises  a  man's  whole  moral 
nature,  and  (if  he  is  good  for  anything)  makes  him  wiser  and  better ; 
to  be  loved  in  return  renders  him  happy,  despite  the  toils  and  trials 
of  life. 

Of  these  great  truths,  the  events  which  we  have  in  the  course  of 
this  history  endeavoured  to  portray,  had  caused  Harry  to  acquire  a 
painful  consciousness ;  he  had  become  aware  also  of  the  caiises  which 
had  hitherto  militated  against  the  full  amount  of  the  happiness  to 
be  enjoyed  in  such  a  position.  He  had  learned  from  poor  Alice's 
delii-ious  confessions  both  the  depth  of  her  attachment  to  him  and 
the  fact  that  experience  had  in  her  case  also  produced  its  bitter  but 
salutary  fmits.  Thus,  should  she  indeed  be  restored  to  him,  what  a 
bright,  enviable  future  lay  extended  before  them !  even  as  the 
thovight  occuiTcd  to  him,  his  eye  fell  upon  her  thin,  pale  f eatiares,  her 
parched  lips,  sunken  cheeks,  and  the  dark,  ominous  hollows  beneath 
her  closed  eyes ;  nay,  as  she  lay  motionless,  wrapped  in  a  heavy, 
oppressive  slumber,  the  hoiiible  idea  flashed  across  him  that  she 
might  be  dead  already  ;  and  with  a  shudder  he  placed  his  hand  upon 
her  wrist,  to  feel  the  beating  of  her  feeble  yet  rapid  pulse,  ere  he 
could  satisfy  himself  that  his  frightful  suspicion  was  but  the  off- 
spring of  a  morbid  fancy.  Still,  the  idea  had  occui-red  to  him,  and 
he  could  not  divest  himself  of  it — what  if  she  should  never  wake 
again,  or  if  she  should  die  without  any  return  of  reason — die,  ignorant 
of  the  depth  of  loving  tenderness  towards  her  which  filled  his  breast. 
Oh!  if  he  could  but  pui'chase  her  life  at  any  sacrifice;  there  was 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  359 

notliing  he  would  not  gladly  give  np — wealth,  position,  even  his 
cherished  field  sports,  everything  ! — how  powerless  he  was,  and  how 
utterly  wretched!  Accustomed,  as  he  had  hitherto  been,  to  rely 
entirely  on  his  own  strength,  both  o£  mind  and  body,  to  accomplish 
his  wishes,  the  situation  was  equally  new  and  painful  to  him.  But 
Coverdale  had  a  powerfiil  and  singularly  healthy  mind,  and  even 
while  he  smarted  under  this  severe  chastening,  he  recognized  the 
Hand  which  inflicted  it,  and  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  sent ;  and, 
mindful  of  the  lessons  of  his  childhood,  the  strong  man  sank  upon 
his  knees  by  the  side  of  his  wife's  sick  cox^ch,  and  prayed  to  his 
Father  in  Heaven  to  si^are,  in  His  mercy,  the  one  little  ewe-laml) 
without  which  he  must  wear  out  the  rest  of  his  earthly  pilgrimage 
desolate  and  lonely-hearted. 

The  crisis  of  Alice's  complaint  was  now  rapidly  approaching,  and 
Harry  sent  for  one  of  the  leading  London  i^hysicians,  who,  after  a 
careful  examination  of  the  patient,  and  a  long  and  solemn  consulta- 
tion with  Dr.  Gouger,  was  pleased  to  say  the  latter  gentleman  had 
pursued  exactly  the  orthodox  method  of  treatment ;  that  he  feared 
Mrs.  Coverdale's  state  was  a  very  precarious  one,  but  that  she  could 
not  be  in  safer  hands  than  those  of  Scalpel  Gouger,  M.D. 

After  Sir  J.  C had  taken  his  departure  and  his  fee  of  fifty 

guineas,  Coverdale,  who  had  sent  Emily  from  Alice's  bedside,  with 
strict  orders  to  take  a  long  stroll  and  refresh  herself,  was  somewhat 
surprised  to  see  her  return  in  less  than  half  an  hour  considerably 
excited  and  with  a  heightened  colour,  which  made  her  look  remark- 
ably pretty.  She  beckoned  Coverdale  out  of  the  sick  room,  and  then 
began, — 

"  Oh !  Harry,  dear,  I  want  to  speak  to  you,  please  ;  and  you  must 
be  good  and  kind,  and  not  fierce,  you  know  ! " 

In  spite  of  his  heavy  heart,  Coverdale  could  not  help  smiling  at  his 
little  sister-in-law's  address. 

"What  is  it,  my  dear  child?"  he  said  kindly.  "I'll  promise  to 
behave  prettily  ;  my  fierceness,  as  you  call  it,  is  tolerably  well  taken 
out  of  me  by  this  time." 

"Well,  I  was  walking  in  the  Park,  you  know,"  resumed  Emily, 
"  and  just  as  I  got  to  Markum's  cottage,  I  perceived  a  tall,  aristo- 
cratic-looking young  man  talking  to  Mrs.  Markum ;  as  soon  as  she 
caught  sight  of  me,  she  exclaimed,  '  Here  is  Miss  Hazlehurst,  sir ;  she 
has  just  come  from  the  house,  and  can  tell  you  the  last  account  of 
poor  mistress.'  Whereupon,  the  gentleman  approached  me,  and 
taking  oif  his  hat,  said,  '  I  believe  I  have  the  pleasure  of  addressing 
a  sister  of  Mrs.  Coverdale  P  '  I  bowed  assent,  and  he  continued, '  My 
name  is  Alfred  Courtland.  I  do  not  know  whether  Coverdale  has 
told  you— (here  he  stammered  and  blushed,  so  like  a  frightened  gii-1, 
that  I  began  to  feel  quite  brave) — that  is,  whether  you  are  aware, 
that  it  was  in  my  service  he  met  with  his  accident,  and  that— that,  in 
fact,  I  cnnnot  but  feel  that  your  sister's  illness  has  been,  in  great 
measure,  brought  on  by  my  folly ;  the  consequence  is,  that  ever  since 


360  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

I  heard  of  her  attack,  I  have  been  miserable.  Coverdale  said  he 
would  write  me  word  how  she  was  goin^  on,  but  I  suppose  in  his 
soiTow  and  anxiety  his  promise  has  escaped  his  memory.  I  bore  the 
suspense  so  long  as  I  was  able,  until  yesterday,  hearing  by  accident 

that  Sir  J.  C had  been  sent  for,  I  could  stand  it  no  longer ;  so  I 

put  myself  into  a  train  the  first  thing  this  morning,  and  came  down 
to  leara  the  truth ;  may  I  ventui'e  to  hope  that,  as  you  are  able  to 
leave  your  sister,  her  danger  has  been  exaggerated  ?  '  Then  I  told 
him  that  dearest  Ally  was  still  very  ill,  but  that  you  were  head  nurse, 
and  had  forced  me  to  come  out  to  get  a  little  air ;  and  I  said  I  was 
sure  you  would  like  to  see  him.  He  was  dreadfully  afraid  of  intrud- 
ing, and  for  some  time  refiTsed  to  come,  but  at  last  he  changed  his 
mind,  and  walked  home  with  me ;  he's  in  the  library,  and  you  will  go 
and  see  him,  there's  a  dear  boy,  for  he  is  very  rmhai^py,  and  I'm  sure 
he's  a  nice  fellow." 

At  any  other  time  Coverdale  would  have  been  amused  at  the 
extreme  zeal  with  which  Emily  had  taken  up  and  advocated  Lord 
Alfred's  cause,  and  have  teased  her  about  her  undisguised  admira- 
tion of  the  handsome  young  peer,  but  his  heart  was  too  heavy  for 
jesting,  so  he  merely  replied, — 

"  In  the  library,  did  you  say  ?  it's  very  good  of  the  boy  to  take  such 
interest  about  poor  Alice,  but  he  always  was  kind-hearted.  Go  to 
her  at  once,  Emily,  dear ;  she  was  asleep  when  you  sent  for  me,  but 
she  might  wake  at  any  minute,  you  know — go  to  her,  I  won't  be  away 
long." 

On  reaching  the  library,  Coverdale  found  Lord  Alfred  awaiting  his 
arrival  in  an  extreme  state  of  nervous  trepidation ;  gi-asping  his  band, 
Harry  shook  it  warmly,  saying, — 

"  This  is  very  kind  of  you,  Alfred,  my  dear  boy ;  you  see  you  find 
ITS  still  anxious  ;  I  hope  there  is  no  serious  cause  for  alarm,  but  you 
know  it's  a  case  in  which  a  man  can't  help  feeling  very,  veiy 
anxious." 

As  Coverdale  thns  spoke  words  of  encouragement,  which  his  looks 
and  manner,  his  quivering  lip,  brimming  eye,  and  the  forced  cheer- 
fulness of  his  voice,  alike  belied,  Lord  Alfred,  more  deeply  affected 
than  he  could  have  been  by  the  most  vehement  reproaches,  lost  aU 
self-control,  and,  bursting  into  tears,  exclaimed, — 

"  Do  not  speak  so  kindly  to  me ;  it  kills  me.  I'd  rather  by  half 
you  would  horsewhip  me  until  I  conld  not  stand,  for  that  is  what 
I  deserve.  Oh !  what  misery  my  wicked  folly  has  brought  about ! 
But  for  me,  you  would  never  have  met  with  this  accident,  and  Mrs. 
Coverdale  would  have  escaped  the  anxiety  and  the  shock  which  has 
brought  on  this  illness  ;  if  I  could  but  do  anything  to  help  you  or  her, 
I  should  hate  myself  less." 

Han-y  approached  him  and  laid  his  hand  on  his  shoulder. 
"Listen  to  me,  my  dear  boy,"  he  said  kindly,  but  impressively, 
"  these  things  cannot  happen  to  a  man  without  obliging  him  to  reflect 
seriously,  and,  as  I  hope,  to  some  good  purpose ;  you  should  not  judge 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  361 

of  your  own  conduct,  or  of  any  one's  else,  simply  by  results;  we  are 
instruments  in  God's  liand  to  work  out  His  designs  ;  and  all  that  we 
can  do  is  to  make  ourselves  acquainted  witli  the  rules  He  has  laid  down 
for  our  guidance,  and  strive  to  act  according  to  them,  but  the  results 
are  in  His  hands,  and  there  we  must  be  content  to  leave  them.  You 
have  acted  foolishly,  but  you  are  aware  of  it,  and  sorry  for  it;  and  in 
such  a  case,  to  look  back  is  worse  than  useless ;  the  only  good  in  ever 
recalling  the  past  is,  that  the  recollection  may  guard  you  against 
falling  again  into  a  similar  temptation  should  such  a  one  come  in 
your  way.  So  much  for  sermonizing ;  and  now,  you  say,  you  want 
to  make  yourself  of  use,  and  I  can  see  you  mean  it.  My  poor  Alice's 
mother  is  a  great  invalid,  and  the  shock  of  hearing  of  this  affair  has 
made  her  more  ill  than  usual :  she  is  most  anxious  about  her  daughter 
Emily — you  met  Emily  ?  " 

"  Tes,  a  most  interesting,  charming  young  lady ;  I  knew  her 
directly  from  her  likeness  to  poor  Mrs.  Coverdale,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Well,  Emily  or  I  write  every  day,  but  the  letter  ta,kes  twelve 

hours  to  get  there  by  post ;  now.  Sir  J.  C is  coming  down  this 

afternoon  to  see  poor  Alice  again,  and  Gouger  fancies  some  change  is 
about  to  take  place  in  her ;  he  snpiDoses  the  crisis  of  the  complaint  is 
at  hand — in  fact — "  Han-y  paused,  for  as  he  spoke  of  the  approach  of 
the  moment  in  which  Alice's  sentence  for  life  or  death  was  to  declare 
itself,  a  choking  sensation  in  his  throat  deprived  him  of  the  power  of 
ntterance ;  trying  to  conceal  his  emotion  under  a  feigned  cough,  he 
resumed,  "  Now,  if  you  wish  to  perform  a  really  kind  and  good- 
natured  action,  will  you  remain  here  until  the  physician  has  given 
his  opinion,  and  then  take  my  dog-cart  and  mare,  and  drive  over 
to  the  Grange  and  detail  his  report  to  Mrs.  Hazlehurst  ?  They  will 
give  you  a  kind  welcome  and  a  bed,  and  you  can  either  go  to  town 
from  thence,  or  come  back  and  dine  and  sleep  here  ;  you'll  not  be  a 
bit  in  the  way,  and  will  help  to  amuse  Emily,  and  tempt  her  out 
of  the  sick  room :  for  the  good  little  girl  is  so  zealous  in  her  atten- 
dance on  her  sister  that  I  live  in  constant  dread  of  her  knocking  up, 
and  then  I  should  have  two  of  them  on  my  hands  at  once — what  do 
you  say  ?  " 

"  Say  !  if  you  think  that  by  going  to  the  world's  end  I  can  be  of 
the  smallest  use  or  comfort  to  you,  you  have  only  to  speak  the  word, 
and  I'm  off,"  was  the  eager  reply ;  then  in  a  jjlaintive  tone.  Lord 
Alfred  continued :  "  Coverdale,  are  you  quite  sure  you  don't  hate  me 
for  all  this  misery  I've  brought  upon  you  ?  " 

"  Go  into  the  dining-room  and  eat  some  luncheon,  you  young 
muff,"  was  the  unsentimental  reply;  "why,  you  have  not  a  better 
friend  in  the  world  than  I  am,  or  at  all  events  a  more  sincere  one, 
you  stupid  boy ;  but,  come  along,  I'll  send  Emily  to  play  hostess,  and 
mind  you  make  her  eat  well.  I  know  that  girl  will  knock  up  if  she 
refuses  her  corn." 

The  luncheon  passed  off  pleasantly  enough — Emily  not  being 
overburthened  with  shyness,  and  possessing  a  flow  of  animal  spirits 


362  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

whicli  even  her  anxiety  for  lier  sister  coiild  not  wholly  overcome, 
chatted  away  so  pleasantly  that  Lord  Alfred  caught  the  infection, 
and  took  his  share  in  the  conversation  with  spirit,  so  that  when  the 

meal  was  over,  they  parted  mutually  pleased.    Sir  J.  C arrived 

true  to  his  appointed  time,  examined  his  patient,  looked  grave,  con- 
sulted with  Dr.  Gouger,  and  then  the  two  medicos  summoned 
Coverdale.  As  he  entered,  the  physician,  who  was  a  tall  gaunt  man, 
■with  a  large,  sharp  nose,  raised  himself  on  tiptoe,  as  if  he  were  trying 
to  fly,  then  giving  it  up  as  hopeless,  subsided  on  his  heels  again, 
cleared  his  throat,  stroked  his  chin,  looked  at  Coverdale  as  if  he 
wished  to  feel  his  pulse  or  give  him  a  pill,  and  began  in  a  bland  and 
insinuating  tone  of  voice, — 

"  You  are  anxious,  my  dear  sir — naturally  anxious  as  to  the 
state  in  which  we  (here  by  a  little  condescending  but  patronizing 
pantomimic  action  he  indicated  Gouger)  have  found  Mrs.  Cover- 
dale  ?  " 

Poor  HaiTy,  boiling  with  anxiety  and  impatience,  shot  a  "  Tes,  of 
course,"  at  him  as  if  he  had  been  a  partridge.  In  no  way  disturbed, 
however,  the  autocrat  of  all  the  jjill-boxes  continued, — 

"  The  duration  of  your  justifiable  anxiety,  my  dear  sir,  will  not  be 
much  further  prolonged ;  in  less  than  twelve  hours  the  complaint 
will  have  reached  its  crisis,  and  the  result  will  not  be  long  in  reveal- 
ing itself  to  educated  eyes." 

"  And  you    think you    feel  reason    to  believe  that the 

result  -will  be  favourable,"  stammered  Harry,  his  stalwart  frame 
trembling  from  head  to  foot  with  the  emotion  he  was  unable  to 
conceal — "  You  do  not  think  your  patient  worse  than  when  you  last 
saw  her  ?  " 

The  physician  paused,  then  replied  gravely, — 

"  It  would  be  mistaken  kindness  to  disguise  from  you  the  truth, 
sir.  Mrs.  Coverdale  is  in  a  most  precarious  state — her  life  hangs 
on  a  thread;  I  do  not  say  that  she  must  die,  but  it  is  my  duty  to 
tell  you  that  it  is  more  than  probable  that  she  may  do  so  ;  the  next 
twelve  hours  will  probably  decide  the  question.  She  is  now  appar- 
ently sinking  into  a  heavy  slumber — from  this  she  may  never  awake, 
or  it  may  be  succeeded  by  fits  of  delirium,  from  which  she  would  be 
unable  to  rally." 

Harry  shuddered,  then  asked, — 

*'  And  what  woiild  be  a  favourable  symptom  ?  " 

"  If  Mrs.  Coverdale  should  wake  free  from  delirium,  so  as  to  be 
able  to  recognize  those  about  her,  you  may  reckon  that  the  fever 
has  worn  itself  out ;  and  the  only  thing  then  to  dread  will  be  her 
extreme  weakness ;  in  that  case  every  effort  must  be  made  to  keep 
her  up :  give  her  port  wine,  or  even  biandy,  a  teaspoonful  every 
five  minutes  if  she  appears  faint;  but  my  friend,  Mr.  Gouger,  is 
quite  aware  of  the  proper  measures  to  be  taken— she  cannot  be  in 
better  hands." 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF   IT  3G3 


CHAPTER  LXI. 

ALICE  APPOINTS  HER  SUCCESSOR. 

That  stipposed  .trreat  arbiter  of  life  and  death,  the  London  ]:)liysician, 
bad  departed,  leaving'  at  least  one  aching  heart  behind  him;  for 
Coverdale  could  not  disguise   from  himself  that,  although  Sir  J, 

C ■  had  not  actually  pronounced  Alice's  sentence  in  plain  words, 

bis  intention  had  been  to  prepare  him  for  the  worst.  In  pity  to 
Emily's  youth  and  warm  affection  for  her  sister,  he  did  not  acquaint 
her  with  the  immediate  proximity  of  the  crisis  on  which  depended 
their  loved  one's  fate  and  his  happiness ;  nor,  not  placing  any  great 
reliance  on  Lord  Alfred  Courtland's  power  of  keeping  a  secret,  did 
he  enlighten  him  either;  but  he  made  some  excuse  for  detaining  him 
and  offering  him  a  bed.  so  that  he  might  be  unable  to  start  on  his 
mission  to  Hazlehurst  Grange  until  the  next  moraing. 

As  the  evening  advanced,  Alice,  who  bad  been  alternately  dozing 
and  waking  \ip  to  bewail  herself  in  wild,  incohei'ent  sentences,  fell 
into  a  deep,  heavy  sleep. 

Dr.  Gouger,  having  yielded  to  Harry's  earnest  request  that  he 
would  return  and  sleep  at  Coverdale  Park  that  night,  set  out  to 
pay  two  or  three  indispensable  visits,  promising  to  be  back  in  good 
time. 

Abovit  eleven  o'clock,  Emily  used  every  argument  she  could  think 
of  to  try  and  induce  Harry,  who  had  sat  up  during  the  last  three 
nights,  to  allow  her  to  take  his  place,  but  in  vain  ;  and  reading  in  his 
pale,  anxious  countenance  that  his  mind  was  made  up,  she  contented 
herself  with  obtaining  his  promise  that  if  any  change  took  place, 
she  should  be  summoned  immediately,  went  to  bed,  and  dreamed 
that  Lord  Alfred  Courtland  was  a  Persian  prince,  disguised  as  a 
physician,  who  had  brought  a  talisman  to  cure  Alice,  for  which  he 
was  to  be  liberally  and  appropriately  rewarded  with  her  (the 
dreamer's)  own  fair  hand  and  the  Archbishopric  of  Canterbury. 

Emily  had  scarcely  retired  when  Dr.  Gouger  returned.  Alice  was 
still  rapt  in  a  heavy  sleep,  from  which,  he  gave  strict  orders  she 
should  not  be  aroused. 

"  Who  sits  up  with  her  P"  he  inquired. 

"  The  nurse,  of  course,"  returned  Harry  :  "  that  is,  if  snoring  in  an 
arm-chair  deserves  to  be  called  so ;  and,  until  she  is  out  of  danger, 
or,  if  it  should  be  so,  until  God  may  see  fit  to  take  her  from  me,  I 
will  never  leave  her !  " 

"  Well,  then,  if  she  wakes  cf  herself  before  morning,  be  very  careful 
not  to  startle  or  alarm  hei-.  Watch  her  eyes  closely,  and  see  if  she 
i-ecognizes  you ;  if  she  does  so,  that  will  be  a  favourable  symptom ;  if 


364  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

she  speaks  to  jon,  control  yoiii"  feelings,  and  answer  lier  quietly  and 
calmly ;  then  instantly  send  for  nie.  I  think  you  perfectly  under- 
stand P  Well  then,  as  I've  ridden  a  good  many  miles  to-day,  and 
have  even  a  longer  round  to  take  to-morrow,  I'll  go  and  lie  down.  I 
shall  not  undress,  so  I  can  be  with  our  patient  the  moment  you  send 
for  me." 

Thus  saying,  the  doctor,  who  was  a  short,  plump,  florid  little  man 
with  a  plain  face  preserved  from  insignificance  by  a  pair  of  bright, 
keen  eyes,  and  a  magnificent  forehead,  yawned  twice,  and  betook  him- 
self to  the  spare  room  allotted  to  him. 

Twelve  o'clock !  Alice  still  asleep !  The  nurse  having  arranged 
a  formidable  line  of  medicine  bottles  ready  for  use,  produces  a  well- 
thumbed  volume  from  her  pocket,  and  adjusting  her  si^ectacles,  sits 
down  to  read  by  the  night-lamp.  One  o'clock !  The  nurse,  after 
many  fruitless  attempts  to  keep  up  appearances,  and  delude  Harry 
into  the  belief  that  she  is  wide  awake,  begins  to  nod  over  her  book, 
occasionally  varying  the  performance  by  trying  to  swallow  a  sup- 
pressed snore,  and  choking  in  the  attempt.  Two  o'clock  !  No  change 
in  the  patient ;  but  the  nurse,  who  during  the  last  half -hour  has 
settled  down  into  a  deep  and  undisgiiisable  sleep,  begins  to  snore 
so  loudly  that  Ooverdale,  afraid  of  her  disturbing  Alice,  takes  her 
by  the  shoulder  and  leads  her  quietly,  but  unresistingly,  into  the 
dressing-room,  and  seats  her  on  a  sofa ;  to  which  discipline  the 
nurse,  who  has  once  or  twice  before  experienced  the  force  of  Han-y's 
quiet  manner,  submits  with  a  lamb-like  meekness  and  docility,  of 
which  those  who  had  seen  her  tyrannizing  in  the  sick  chambers  of 
her  poorer  clients,  would  scarcely  have  deemed  her  capable.  Three 
o'clock  !  How  long  the  hours  seem,  and  how  dreary  !  The  stillness 
— broken  only  by  the  measured  breathing  of  the  patient  and  the 
distant  snoring  of  the  banished  nurse — the  deep,  solemn  stillness  of 
a  country  house  at  night,  becomes  painfully  oppressive  to  the  over- 
•wi'ought  senses  of  the  watcher.  Will  the  crisis  never  arrive  ?  Alice 
moves  slightly,  and  moans  in  her  sleep.  Harry  trembles  from  head 
to  foot.  Is  she  about  to  wake  ?  Will  she  recognize  him  ?  No ! — 
she  sinks  again  into  a  deep,  heavy  slumber,  and  Harry  breathes  a 
sigh  of  relief  and  of  thankfulness  that  the  fearful  moment  is  again 
postiDoned.  Four  o'clock !  The  dim  grey  light  of  dawn  begins  to 
peep  in  through  the  opening  in  the  shutters,  caiising  the  lamp  to 
shed  lurid,  flickering  rays  round  the  sick  room,  and  thus  adding  to 
rather  than  diminishing,  the  darkness.  How  cold  it  has  become ! 
and  how  every  nerve  and  fibre  in  Harry's  injured  arm  aches  and 
throbs !  What  an  etenaity  of  anguish  appears  capable  of  being 
condensed  into  a  few  minutes  of  severe  bodily  pain  ! 

Hark  !  what  is  that  low,  wailing  sound  outside  the  window  ?  He 
starts,  and  turns  pale !  Why  do  those  foolish,  hateful  legends  of 
banshees  throng  and  crowd  into  his  brain?  Why  does  he  remember 
with  shivering  dread  that  old  wife's  tale  of  a  white  lady  who  weeps 
and   wrings   her  hands  before  the  death  of  any  member  of  the 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  30j 

Coverdale  family  ?  He  lauj^lied  at  it  as  a  boy,  and  dressed  himself 
in  white  to  frighten  the  maids.  He  cannot  laugh  at  it  now !  Again 
it  comes,  louder  and  more  prolonged ;  but  he  knows  this  time  that 
it  is  the  howling  of  a  dog — the  King  Charles's  spaniel,  Alice's  pet, 
which  he  has  been  obliged  to  have  tied  up,  lest  it  might  disturb  her ; 
but  hitherto  it  had  bome  its  confinement  quietly .  "Why  should  it 
howl  so  dismally  to-night  ?  Did  any  strange  instinct  warn  it  of  its 
mistress's  danger  ?  Ah !  that  word — danger ; — yes,  a  danger  from 
which  all  his  deep  fervent  love,  and  his  unequalled,  manly  strength, 
were  alike  powerless  to  shield  her.  How  crushed,  and  helpless,  and 
miserable,  well-nigh  despairing,  he  feels !  And  yet  are  they  not 
both  in  the  hands  of  a  merciful  Father  ?  God's  will  be  done !  but  as 
the  words  of  resignation  pass  his  lips,  the  big  tears  roll  down  his 
cheeks  as  the  recollection  of  all  that  he  might  be  resigning  wrung 
his  loving  breast.  Covering  his  eyes  with  his  hand,  he  strove  to 
shut  out  all  thought,  all  feeling !  How  long  he  remained  in  this 
position  he  never  knew;  but  as  soon  as  he  removed  his  hand,  it 
struck  him  that  Alice  had  changed  her  attitude.  Shading  his  eyes 
from  the  glare  of  the  lamp,  he  gazed  earnestly  at  her.  Tes,  she  had 
moved,  and  surely  she  was  awake.  While  he  yet  looked,  unable 
to  trust  the  evidence  of  his  senses,  a  soft,  faint  voice,  scarcely  above 
a  whisper,  pronounced  his  name:  so  low  was  the  sound,  that, 
fancying  it  might  be  a  delusion  of  his  own  overwrought  senses,  Harry 
bent  down  his  head,  as  he  asked,  in  a  quiet,  gentle  tone  of  voice, — 

"  Alice,  darling  are  you  awake  ?    Did  you  call  me  ?  " 

For  a  moment  there  was  no  reply,  and  then  the  same  gentle  voice 
whispered, — 

"  Harry,  dear,  you  have  been  away  a  long,  long  time." 

As  she  spoke,  she  tried  to  raise  her  arm  to  draw  his  face  nearer ; 
but  the  wasted  muscles  refused  to  do  their  duty,  and  the  poor  thin 
almost  transparent  hand,  di'opped  powerless  beside  her. 

"  I  am  very  weak.  Hairy,  love,"  she  said ;  then,  with  an  effort  at 
recollection,  she  added  :  "  Where  am  I  ? — here,  at  home  ?  Have  I 
been  ill  long  ?  " 

"  You  have  been  very  ill,  my  own  darling ;  but  you  will  soon  get 
well  now.  Don't  try  to  talk,  or  think  about  it  yet.  I  will  fetch  you 
a  soothing  draught,  and  then  you  must  endeavour  to  go  to  sleep 
again." 

Fearful  of  over-exciting  her,  he  rose  to  call  the  nurse.  As  he 
turned  to  leave  her  for  this  purpose,  Alice  again  stretched  out  her 
hand  to  detain  him. 

"  Harry,  love,  do  not  go  away,  please.  I  will  do  everything  you 
tell  me,  but  I  shall  die  if  I  lose  you  again." 

Harry  stooped  and  kissed  her  pale,  thin  cheek. 

"  I  am  only  going  to  call  the  nurse,"  he  said.  "  I  will  never  leave 
you  any  more,  dearest !  " 

Alice  faintly  endeavoured  to  return  his  caress,  and  sank  back 
exhausted  on  her  pillow. 


366  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

HaiTy  roused  the  still  sleeping  nurse,  and  dispatched  lier  to 
summon  Dr.  Gouger.  Then  returning  to  his  wife's  bedside,  he  took 
her  thin  hand  in  his ;  and  as  his  affectionate  pressure  was  feebly 
returned,  the  hope  that  Alice  might  be  restored  to  him — a  hope 
which  that  night  of  anxious  watching  had  nearly  destroyed — began 
once  more  to  reanimate  him. 

Dr.  Gouger,  accustomed  to  be  called  up  at  all  hours  of  the  night, 
made  his  appeai-ance  in  an  incredibly  shoi't  space  of  time.  As  he 
approached  the  bed,  Alice  perceived  him,  and  smiled  faintly  in  token 
of  recognition— a  favourable  symptom,  at  which  the  doctor  nodded 
approval.  Having  made  a  careful  examination  of  the  patient,  he 
prepared  a  draught,  which  he  gave  her.  Then  saying,  "  Now  try 
and  go  to  sleep,  my  dear  madam,  and  I  trust  to  find  you  much 
refreshed  to-morrow  morning,"  he  turned  to  leave  the  room. 

HaiTy  followed  him  to  the  door. 

*'  Well  ?  "  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  the  deepest  anxiety. 

'■  The  disease  has  worn  itself  out.  Mrs.  Coverdale  is  free  from 
fever,  and  the  only  thing  we  have  now  to  fear  is  weakness,"  was  the 
doctor's  reply.  "  She  must  be  kept  perfectly  quiet  both  in  mind  and 
body  for  some  days.  "When  she  wakes  in  the  morning,  throw  a  cape 
or  something  over  that  arm  of  yours  ;  it  might  give  her  a  shock  if 
she  were  to  perceive  it  suddenly.  It  is  a  very  favourable  symptom 
her  having  recovered  consciousness  so  completely, — in  fact,  the  case 
is  going  on  as  well  as,  under  the  circumstances,  I  conceive  to  be 
possible." 

"  Thank  GOD ! "  was  all  the  reply  Harry  could  make ;  but  as  Alice, 
with  her  hand  in  his,  fell  into  a  sound,  refreshing  slumber,  his  whole 
soul  poured  itself  out  in  silent  but  heartfelt  thanksgiving  to  the 
Father  of  all  mercies,  who  had  accepted  his  penitence,  and  again 
entrusted  to  his  care  the  tender  flower  which,  in  his  inconsiderate 
carelessness,  he  had  once  neglected. 

When  Emily  came  down  to  breakfast  on  the  following  morning, 
she  quite  started  with  pleased  surprise  to  perceive  the  bright,  happy 
expression  of  her  brother-in-law's  countenance. 

"  I  need  not  ask  whether  Alice  is  better,"  she  began ;  "  I  can  read 
it  in  your  face.  But  has  any  gi-eat  change  taken  place  since  yester- 
day?" 

In  reply  to  her  question,  Harry  told  her  all — told  her  even  more 
than  he  had  ever  confessed  to  himself — how,  day  by  day,  his  hopes 
had  diminished  and  his  fears  increased,  until,  after  the  physician's 
caution  on  the  previous  morning,  he  had  made  up  his  mind  that  the 
medical  men  considered  Alice  dying ;  how  he  had  concealed  from 
her  that  the  crisis  of  the  complaint  was  at  hand ;  and  how  he  had 
passed  the  night  in  an  agony  of  trembling  expectation,  longing  for 
and  yet  dreading  the  moment  in  which  she  should  awake ;  together 
with  his  delight  when  he  heard  her  pronoimce  his  name. 

Lord  Alfred  Courtland  set  off  in  high  glee  for  Hazlehurst 
Grange,   certain   of   a   hearty  welcome,  as  bearer  of   such  good 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  367 

tidinsrs,  and  happier,  as  he  dechired,  than  he  had  felt  for  the  last  six 
months. 

A  week  passed  away.  For  two  or  three  days,  Alice  appeared  to 
progress  favourably — as  favourably  as  even  her  husband's  anxiety 
could  desire.  She  knew  every  one,  and  conversed  reasonably  upon 
all  subjects ;  but  with  the  return  of  consciousness,  a  settled  melan- 
choly appeared  to  have  taken  possession  of  her.  This,  together  with 
her  extreme  weakness,  gave  uneasiness  alike  to  her  indefatigable 
nurses,  Harry  and  Emily,  and  to  Dr.  Gouger.  Taking  Harry  aside 
one  morning,  he  began, — 

"  There  are  symptoms  about  Mrs.  Coverdale  which  I  cannot  under- 
stand, and  which  appear  to  me  more  mental  than  bodily.  They  are 
retarding  her  recovery ;  and  if  you  could  ascertain  the  cause,  and 
were  able  to  remove  it,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  tell  you  that  you  would 
prove  a  more  effectual  physician  than  I,  or  any  one  else,  can  be  to 
her ;  but  you  must  bear  in  mind  her  state  of  extreme  debility  ;  she  is 
not  fit  to  discuss  any  exciting  topic  at  present." 

*'  Then  how  would  you  recommend  me  to  proceed  ? "  inquired 
Harry,  the  doctor's  warning  having  impressed  him  with  two 
diametx'ically  opposite  ideas  : — first,  that  it  behoved  him  to  ascertain 
whether  anything,  and  (if  anything)  what,  was  preying  upon  his 
wife's  mind ;  and,  secondly,  that  by  so  doing,  he  should  probably 
lead  her  to  talk  on  some  exciting  subject,  which,  in  her  present  weak 
state,  was  the  thing  of  all  others  to  be  avoided.  How  were  these 
difficulties  to  be  reconciled  ? 

Dr.  Gouger's  ansvver  did  not  tend  greatly  to  elucidate  matters. 

"  Really,  my  dear  sir,  that  is  a  point  on  which  I  can  give  you  no 
advice.  In  the  treatment  of  all  bodily  ailments,  I,  with  all  due 
deference  to  my  professional  bi-ethren,  consider  myself  as  com- 
petent as  any  man ;  but  were  I  so  far  to  overstep  my  proper 
province  as  to  attempt  to  '  minister  to  a  mind  diseased,'  as  our 
great  poet  has  it,  I  shoxild  be  guilty  of  unpardonable  presumption. 
No,  my  dear  sir,  I  have  given  you  the  suggestion,  and  must  leave 
it  to  your  sound  judgment  how  far,  or  in  what  way,  it  may  be 
desirable  to  act  upon  it." 

Poor  Harry!  just  the  very  points  upon  which  he  felt  most 
incompetent  to  form  an  opinion  were  those  on  which  he  was 
called  upon  to  decide  and  act ;  but  Harry  had  one  adviser  which 
never  failed  him — his  own  simple,  straightforward  commonsense ;  and 
to  that,  and  the  so-called  chapter  of  accidents,  he  resolved  to  trust. 

During  the  remainder  of  that  dtiy,  however,  the  aforesaid  chapter 
did  not  afford  him  the  opportimity  he  sought  for.  Alice  appeared 
weak  and  depressed,  and  more  inclined  to  sleep  than  to  converse. 
On  the  following  morning,  she  seemed  a  degree  stronger  and  less 
disinclined  to  exertion.  She  inquired  into  the  particulars  of  the 
steeple-chase,  and  especially  interested  herself  in  all  the  details  relat- 
ing to  the  leap  at  which  he  met  with  his  accident,  and  his  "  pluck  "  in 
remounting  and  winning  the  race  with  a  broken  arm. 


3G8  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

After  Hariy  bad  ^iven  a  full,  true,  and  particular  account  of  the 
affair  from  beg^inning  to  end,  and  bis  wife  bad  evinced  all  proper 
interest  and  sympatby,  a  pause  ensued  in  tbe  conversation,  wbich 
was  broken  by  Alice. 

"  Emily  bas  been  telling  me  bow  you  would  sit  up  witb  me,  nigbt 
after  nigbt,  wben  you  ougbt  to  bave  been  lying  in  bed  yourself  witb 
your  poor  arm,"  sbe  said ;  "  bow  kind  and  good  it  was  of  you  !  I 
bope  you  do  not  suffer  very  miicb  pain  now  ?  " 

*'  Ob,  no !  it  is  troublesome  at  times,  biit  in  general  it  is  pretty 
easy,"  was  tbe  reply. 

After  anotber  pause,  Alice  asked,  in  a  low,  trembling  voice, — 

"  Did  you  tbink  I  sbould  die,  HaiTy  ?  " 

"  I  was  natm-ally  very  anxious  and  unhappy  about  you,"  returned 
Coverdale,  "  and^well,  since  you  are  getting  on  so  nicely,  I  will 
confess  that  I  was  terribly  frightened  about  you  at  one  time, — that 
night  on  which  tbe  crisis  took  place  especially ;  I  never  wish  to  pass 
such  another  six  hours,  I  assiire  you  !  " 

"  HaiTy,  love,  I  hope  it  would  not  make  you  very  unhappy  to  lose 
me.  Just  a  little  sori-y  I  sbould  wish  you  to  feel ;  I  should  like  you, 
when  you  are  recollecting  me,  to  think,  '  she  was  a  poor,  foolish  little 
thing,  very  obstinate  and  perverse  at  times,  but  still  she  loved  me  as 
well  as  such  a  silly  little  thing  could.' " 

"  Alice,  my  own  darling,  why  indulge  in  such  gloomy  fancies  ?  " 
replied  her  husband  tenderly;  "you  know,  you  must  be  sure,  it 
woidd  break  my  heart  to  lose  you.  Ask  Emily  whether  I  am  not  a 
different  creature  since  the  doctors  bave  pronoimced  you  out  of 
danger  P " 

"  Harry,  my  own  dearest  husband,  I  love  to  hear  you  say  that,  and 
I  know  it  is  true  ;  but,  dear  Harry,  you  must  not  be  very  unhappy  if 
stich  a  thing  were  to  occur,  for — for — I  think  I  shall  die  yet ;  I  tbink 
I  grow  weaker  and  weaker  every  day ;  I  shall  never  bave  strength 
enough  to  get  well  again." 

Coverdale  was  about  to  interrupt  her,  but  she  placed  her  finger  on 
bis  lips  to  imply  her  wish  that  be  should  remain  silent  as  sbe  con- 
tinued,— 

"  Yes,  dearest,  I  believe  I  am  gradually  sinking  into  my  grave ;  it 
made  me  very,  very  unhapi)y  at  first ;  for  life  is  pleasant,  and  I  am 
yoimg  to  die  !  besides.  I  know,  love,  what  a  bad,  tiresome  wife  I  liaA^e 
been  to  you,  and  I  did  so  want  to  try  if  I  could  not  do  better ;  I  know 
what  a  proud,  rebellious,  wilful  temper  I  have  shown  towards  you, 
but  indeed  I  don't  tbink  I  bave  altogether  a  bad  heart,  and  I  did 
hope  if  I  tried  very  bard,  perhaps  I  coiild  make  you  happy ;  but 
lately  I  have  begun  to  think  it  may  be  better  for  you  as  it  is." 

"  My  own  darling,  what  strange,  silly  fancies  are  these  ?  Gouger 
says  you  are  going  on  as  well  as  possible ;  you  make  me  wretched  to 
hear  you  talk  so,  and  what  do  you  mean  by  it  being  better  for  me 
as  it  is  ?  If  I  were  to  lose  you,  I  sbould  never  know  another  happy 
hour." 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  3G9 

"  Ton  tliink  so  now,  deai',"  was  the  reply,  "  and  very  kind  it  is  of 
you  to  be  so  fond  of  your  naughty,  tii'esome  little  wife ;  and  I  know 
you  will  be  very  unhappy  at  first  when  I  die  ;  but  you  must  go  abroad 
or  take  a  shooting  tour  somewhere,  to  keep  you  from  thinking  and 
fretting  about  me ;  and — you  must  not  be  angry  at  what  I  am  going 
to  say,  dear — in  a  year  or  so  you  must  come  back,  and  then  you  can 
maiTy  some  one  who  will  make  you  a  better  wife  than  jjooi",  silly 
little  Alice — some  one  who  has  been  attached  to  you  a  long  time,  and 
whom  there  will  be  no  I'eason  why  you  should  not  love  in  return  when 
I  am  out  of  the  way ;  she  is  more  clever  and  courageous  than  I  am, 
and  vsall  be  able  to  enter  into  your  pursuits,  and  help  you  with  your 
magistrate's  business,  and — and — oh !  I  am  sure  you  will  be  very 
happy  with  her,  dear !  " 


CHAPTER  LXIL 

MRS,     COVERDALE    THINKS     BETTER     OF    IT, 

Harry  listened  with  all  the  patience  he  could  muster  while  Alice  was 
thus  comfortably  arranging  her  o"vvn  decease  and  his  second  marriage, 
then  speaking  gi-avely,  though  still  in  the  most  affectionate  manner, 
he  replied, — 

"  I  cannot  even  feel  annoyed  with  yoti  now  you  are  so  ill  and  weak, 
nay  poor  child,  but  the  matter  to  which  you  allude  is  most  repugnant 
and  distasteful  to  me  ;  it  is  a  subject,  in  fact,  on  which  I  wonld  not 
allow  any  human  being  but  yoiu-self  to  address  me.  I  will  not 
pretend  to  niisvmderstand  your  allusion;  but  I  do  most  solemnly 
assure  you  that  you  are  mistaken,  and  that  were  it,  indeed,  God's 
will  that  you  should  be  taken  from  me,  no  new  ties  should  come 
between  my  soul  and  the  memory  of  the  only  woman,  except  my  poor 
mother,  whom  I  have  ever  really  loved.  I  see  that  you  do  not  believe 
me  !  it  is  unjust,  almost  unkind  of  you ! " 

Harry  spoke  with  deep  feeling ;  and. Alice,  with  tears  in  her  eyes, 
placed  her  poor,  thin  hand  within  that  of  her  husband  as  she 
replied, — 

"  I  do  most  fully  believe  that  you  love  me  as  you  say,  and  that  at 
this  moment  you  do  not  imagine  you  could  be  happy  with  anybody 
else,  but  it  is  a  comfort  to  me  to  think  that  when  I  am  parted  from 
yoix  there  will  still  be  some  one  to  care  for  you.  I  assure  you  I  feel 
quite  differently  towards  Miss  Crofton  now ;  I  was  jealous  of  her, 
dreadfully  jealous— I  confess  it !  but  I  now  am  grateful  to  her  for 

£  b 


370  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

loving  you,  and  sorry  I  ever  entertained  such  uncharitable  feelings 
towards  her.  I  mean  to  leave  her  all  my  jewels,  except  one  or  two 
little  things  I  should  like  to  give  poor  Emily." 

Alice  paused,  partly  through  weakness,  partly  because  she  wanted 
her  husband  to  signify  his  approval  of  her  sentiments,  which  she 
considered  was  the  least  he  could  do,  in  return  for  what  was,  in  fact, 
to  her,  an  act  of  almost  supei'human  charity  and  self-denial.  But 
Coverdale  was  in  no  humour  to  comply  with  her  desire ;  on  the  con- 
trary, so  distasteful  was  the  whole  matter,  and  poor  Alice's  idea  of 
the  situation  so  far  from  the  truth,  that  he  was  driven  to  his  wits' 
end  with  perplexity  and  annoyance,  which  nothing  but  a  sense  of  his 
wife's  unfitness  to  sustain  so  energetic  a  mode  of  address  prevented 
from  breaking  forth  in  a  burst  of  his  "  quiet  manner."  As  he  con- 
tinued silent,  Alice  resumed : — 

"  You  mvist  not  be  angry  with  me  for  knowing  about  it,  HaiTy 
dear,  for  the  knowledge  was  forced  upon  me,  nor  was  I  aware 
what  Lord  Alfred  Courtland  was  about  to  tell  me  until  I  had  heard 
so  much  that  my  womanly  dignity  would  not  allow  me  to  stop 
him ;  I  did  not  choose  to  let  him  think  I  could  believe  it  possible 
you  had  done  anything  I  should  be  afraid  to  hear,  and  so  he  told  me 
all." 

"  And  pray  what  might  all  be  ?  "  inquired  Harry,  as  calmly  as  he 
was  al)le. 

"  Oh  !  about  her  being  in  love  with  you,  and  your  a'unning  away 
together,  and  old  Mr.  Somebody  (I  can't  remember  names)  taking 
her  away  again,  and  preventing  you  from  marrying  her ;  yes,  he  told 
me  all  about  it." 

"  He  told  you  a  pack  of  lies,  so  mixed  up  with  a  little  truth,  that 
unless  I  were  able  to  give  you  a  detailed  account  of  the  affair  I  could 
not  separate  them,  and  I  am  under  a  solemn  promise  not  to  say  any- 
thing about  it :  but  I  know  what  I  wiU  do.  In  the  meantime  believe 
this — I  love  you  with  my  whole  lieai't  and  soul,  and  you  only,  and  if 
you  have  any  regard  for  me  you  will  strive  to  banish  all  these  silly 
fancies,  which  only  delay  your  recovery,  and  get  well  as  fast  as  you 
can  for  my  sake.  And  now  you  have  talked  more  than  is  good  for 
you,  so  I  shall  send  Emily  to  you  to  read  you  to  sleep." 

As  soon  as  he  had  put  this  resolution  into  practice,  he  betook  himself 
to  the  library,  and  wrote  as  follows  : — 

"  Dear  Arabella, — The  promise  I  made  you  at  the  inn,  at 
Fiumalba,  I  have  up  to  this  time  kept  faithfully  ;  I  now  ask  you  to 
release  me  from  it.  My  wife's  happiness  (in  which  my  own  is  bound 
up),  perhaps  her  life  even,  depends  upon  your  doing  so:  she  has 
just  passed  the  crisis  of  a  brain  fever,  her  bodily  weakness  is 
lamentable  to  witness,  and  the  mental  depression  naturally  arising 
from  it  leads  her  to  take  a  morbid  and  desponding  view  of  her  own 
chances  of  recovery  :  in  such  a  position,  anything  that  will  conduce 
to  raise  her  spirits  and  tranquillize  her  mind  will  effect  more  than 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  371 

twenty  doctors.  Some  mischief-maker  lias  caused  her  to  obtain  a 
garbled  account  of  a  certain  occurrence,  to  which  I  will  not  farther 
refer ;  nothing  but  the  whole  truth  will  suffice  to  set  her  mind  at 
rest.  Arabella !  I  deeply  regret  this  necessity ;  but  it  cannot  be 
avoided,  and  I  trust  to  you  to  act  towards  me  as  I  would  act  by  you 
if  the  situation  were  reversed. 

"  I  remain  always, 

"  Your  true  and  sincere  friend, 

"Haert  Coverdale." 

For  two  or  three  days  after  that  on  which  the  foregoing  conversa- 
tion between  Coverdale  and  his  wife  took  place,  Alice  continued 
much  in  the  same  condition,  the  idea  that  she  should  die,  and  that 
after  her  death  Harry  would  espouse  Arabella  Crofton,  and  be  much 
happier  than  she  had  been  able  to  make  him,  appeared  never  absent 
from  her  mind ;  her  appetite  decreased,  her  sleep  became  broken  and 
fitful,  and  Mr.  Gouger's  face  grew  longer,  and  his  head  shook  more 
and  more  like  that  of  Lord  Bui'leigh  in  the  "  Critic,"  every  time  he 
visited  her. 

One  morning,  on  Coverdale's  return  from  the  neighboiiring  town, 
whither  he  had  ridden  to  procure  some  delicacy  wherewith  to  try  and 
tempt  Alice's  capricious  appetite,  he  was  equally  surprised  and  pleased 
on  entering  her  room  to  perceive  a  brightness  in  her  eye  and  a  colour 
in  her  cheek,  such  as  he  had  feared  never  to  see  there  again. 

"  Why,  Alice  darling,  this  fine  morning  has  inspired  you — you  are 
looking  more  like  yourself  than  I  have  seen  you  this  many  a  long 
day!"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  seated  himself  by  the  easy-chair  which 
Alice  had  gained  sufficient  strength  to  use  as  a  substitute  for  her 
couch. 

Regarding  him  with  a  smile  and  blush,  which  tinged  her  pale 
cheeks  with  the  most  delicate  rose-colour,  she  replied, — 

"  You  have  grown  very  clever  in  reading  people's  faces  of  late, 
Harry  dear;  but  you  are  quite  right  in  fancying  something  has 
inspired  me— at  least,  if  feeling  very  happy  is  what  you  mean  by 
inspiration.  But  oh !  how  foolish  I  have  been !  how  wrong,  how 
unjust  I  was  ever  to  doubt  you !  Harry  dearest,  can  you  forgive  me 
for  not  feeling  certain  that  you  had  always  acted  as  nobly  and 
generously  before  I  knew  you  as  you  have  done  since  ?  If  you  could 
tell  how  I  hate  and  despise  myself  for  my  silly,  illiberal  suspicions  ! 
But  you  must  wonder  all  this  time  what  has  set  me  raving  in  this 
strange  way.  What  do  you  think  of  my  having  had  a  letter  from — 
yes  !  actually  from  Miss  Crofton,  telling  me — here,  read  it  yourself, 
I  am  certain  every  word  of  it  is  true ;  and  oh !  how  I  pity  her  for 
being  obliged  to  write  it,  and,  indeed,  for  the  whole  affair,  poor 
thing ! " 

As  Alice  spoke  she  drew  a  letter  from  the  pocket  of  her  dress,  and 
gave  it  to  her  husband ;  it  ran  as  follows  : — 

"  I  have  received  a  note  from  Mr,  Coverdale,  urging  me  to  release 


372  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

liim  from  a  promise  lie  most  kindly  made  me  at  a  time  when,  bowed 
down  by  sliame  and  contrition,  liis  doing  so  saved  me,  as  I  verily 
believe,  from  madness  or  suicide.  He  tells  me  your  bealtb  and  his 
happiness  depend  upon  my  complying  with  his  request ;  it  becomes 
then  a  duty  in  me  to  do  so ;  and,  however  painful  it  may  be,  I  will 
not  flinch  from  it.  It  appears  to  me  that  the  most  effectual  way  to 
remove  any  misapprehension  from  your  mind  in  regard  to  the  natiire 
and  extent  of  my  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Coverdale  before  his 
marriage  will  be  to  give  you  a  concise  account  of  the  occurrences 
which  took  place  during  the  summer  I  spent  in  Italy,  whither  I  had 
accompanied  a  family  of  the  name  of  Muir,  in  the  capacity  of 
governess.  The  Muirs  were  well-meaning,  commonplace  people,  not 
possessing  the  slightest  tact  or  refinement  of  feeling.  I  was  at  that 
time  young  and  morbidly  sensitive ;  and  the  slights  they  put  upon 
me,  without,  as  I  can  now  perceive,  intending  any  unkindness,  or, 
indeed,  being  aware  of  the  effect  their  thoughtlessness  was  producing 
upon  me,  were  a  daily  martyrdom  to  my  proud  spirit.  We  spent 
three  months  at  Florence;  and  shortly  after  we  had  settled  there, 
John  Muir,  the  eldest  son,  who  had  been  making  a  tour  among  the 
Swiss  mountains,  rejoined  his  family,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Coverdale, 
who  had  known  him  at  the  university.  Slightly  attracted,  I  fancy, 
by  the  good  looks  of  my  eldest  pupil,  who  was  an  iinusually  pretty 
nonentity,  Mr.  Coverdale,  always  talking  of  tlie  necessity  of  continu- 
ing his  journey  to  the  East,  still  lingered  at  Florence.  The  great 
kindness  of  heart  and  delicacy  of  feeling  which  lie  hid  under  a 
roughness  of  manner  that  can  only  mislead  a  very  superficial 
observer,  soon  led  him  to  perceive  and  pity  my  isolated  position ; 
and  from  the  moment  in  which  he  became  aware  how  keenly  the 
sense  of  dependence  preyed  ujDon  me,  he  treated  me  with  a  degree  of 
defei'ence  and  attention  which  could  not  but  conti-ast  most  favourably 
with  the  neglect  I  experienced  from  others.  Under  the  cold  manner 
which  circumstances  have  forced  me  to  assume,  I  have  concealed  a 
naturally  ardent  and  impetuous  disposition,  and  as  deeply  as  I  had 
been  affected  by  the  ungenerous  conduct  of  the  Muirs  did  I  now 
appreciate  Mr.  Coverdale's  sympathy  and  kindness — in  a  word,  for 
I  have  resolved  to  conceal  nothing  from  you,  I  loved  him  with  all 
the  force  of  my  passionate  nature.  But  the  very  strength  of  my 
feelings  led  me  studiously  to  conceal  them ;  nor,  until  the  elopement 
of  my  eldest  pupil  with  a  scheming  Italian  adventurer  broke  up  the 
party,  did  I  give  Mr.  Coverdale  the  slightest  opportimity  of  suspect- 
ing the  warm  interest  he  had  excited  in  me ;  but  when  about  to  bid 
him  farewell  as  I  imagined  for  ever,  my  self-control  gave  way,  and  I 
burst  into  a  passionate  flood  of  tears.  Equally  grieved  and  surprised, 
he  soothed  me  with  his  accustomed  kind  and  considerate  delicacy, 
begged  me  always  to  look  upon  him  as  a  friend,  and  apply  to  him  in 
any  emergency,  as  to  a  brother ;  and  as  soon  as  I  became  somewhat 
more  composed,  left  me.  The  next  tidings  I  heard  of  him  were  that 
he  had  quitted  Florence.    Scarcely  had  I  retired  to  my  room,  to 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  373 

endeavour  to  calm  my  excitement,  and  to  struggle  to  subdue  my 
hopeless  attacliment  in  tears  and  solitude,  when  Mrs.  Muir  sent  for 
me,  and  reproached  me  with  equal  virulence  and  unkindness  for  her 
daughter's  elopement,  Avhich  she  declared  to  have  been  the  conse- 
quence of  my  neglect.  '  Had  you,'  she  continued, '  been  less  engrossed 
by  seeking  to  ensnare  the  aifections  of  Mr.  Coverdale,  you  would 
have  been  better  able  to  perform  the  duties  of  your  situation,  and 
this  misfortune  might  never  have  come  upon  us.'  Stung  by  the 
mixture  of  truth  and  falsehood  in  this  cruel  reproach,  I  replied— I 
know  not  what — proudly,  and  I  can  now  well  believe  impertinently  ; 
and  the  next  thing  that  I  became  aware  of  was,  that  a  sum  of  money 
sufficient  to  defray  my  expenses  to  England  was  placed  before  me, 
and  that  I  was  dismissed.  Thrown  thus  on  my  own  resources  in  a 
foreign  land,  withoiit  a  single  friend  near  to  help  or  advise  me,  what 
wonder  that  I  instinctively  tunied  to  the  only  quarter  from  which  I 
had  for  years  (for  mine  had  been  a  desolate  youth)  met  with  kindness, 
consideration,  and  sympathy ;  and  that  from  the  chaos  of  conflicting 
emotions  one  idea  alone  stood  out  clear  and  defined — to  seek  Harry 
Coverdale,  tlii'ow  myself  on  his  generosity,  tell  my  tale  of  sorrow  and 
of  love,  and  leave  the  result  to  him  and  destiny.  That  such  a  course 
was  unwomanly,  almost  unpardonable  in  me,  none  can  be  more 
bitterly  aware  than  I  am ;  but  I  pray  God  that  those  of  my  own  sex 
who  are  inclined  to  condemn  me  may  never  be  tempted  as  I  was 
tempted — may  never  fall  as,  but  for  the  superhuman  goodness  of 
heart,  and  the  tender,  simple,  yet  chivalrous  nature  of  yoiu'  husband, 
I  should  have  fallen.  With  me,  to  resolve  and  to  act  were  simul- 
taneous. I  lost  not  a  moment  in  ascertaining  the  route  Mr.  Cover- 
dale  had  taken,  and  ere  the  Muir  family  were  aware  of  my  departure 
I  had  followed  him  to  Fiumalba,  a  small  town  within  a  few  hours' 
journey  of  Florence.  Without  allowing  myself  an  instant's  time  for 
reflection,  I  sought  the  hotel  at  which  Mr.  Coverdale  was  stopping, 
and  in  my  distraction  flung  myself  at  his  feet,  and  told  him  every- 
thing— how  I  loved  him  better  than  any  other  created  being — better 
even  than  my  own  womanly  pride  and  good  name — how  I  felt  con- 
vinced that  such  love  as  mine  mvTst  in  time  win  return — how  that  if 
he  would  make  me  his  wife,  I  would  devote  every  thoiTght,  every 
action  of  my  future  existence,  to  secure  his  happiness— how,  if  he 
refused  me,  I  would  lie  down  at  his  feet  and  die,  but  never  leave  him. 
Then  did  he  indeed  redeem  his  promise  of  acting  by  me  as  a  brother 
— then  did  he  save  me  from  my  worst  enemy — myself.  Having 
soothed  and  quieted  my  agony  of  spirit,  by  his  calm  good  sense  and 
judicious  kindness,  he  appealed  to  my  reason — set  before  me  how,  by 
yielding  to  my  request,  and  making  me  the  partner  of  his  future  life, 
while  unable  to  feel  for  me  that  degree  of  afilection  without  which 
such  a  tie  must  become  unbearable,  he  would  be  doing  me  an  injury 
i-ather  than  confemng  a  benefit ;  nor  did  he  leave  me  until  he  had 
obtained  my  consent  to  allow  him  to  return  to  Florence,  explain  the 
whole  matter  to  Mr.  Muir,  expostulate  with  him  as  to  the  cruelty 


374  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

and  injustice  of  thus  dismissing  me  with  an  undeserved  shir  on  my 
character  as  a  governess,  and  endeavour  to  arrange  that  I  should 
remain  with  his  wife  and  daughter,  and  accompany  them  on  their 
return  to  England.  In  this  negotiation  he  was  successful.  Mr. 
Muir — an  easy,  self-indulgent  character,  yet  one  who  coiild,  on 
occasions  such  as  that  to  Avhich  I  refer,  act  kindly  and  honourably — 
accompanied  Mr.  Coverdale  back  to  Fiumalba,  where  he  informed 
me  that  he  had  prevailed  on  Mrs.  Muir  to  agree  to  the  above 
proposal,  adding  that  he  and  Mr.  Coverdale  were  the  only  persons 
aware  of  the  imprudent  step  I  had  taken,  and  that  they  were  both 
willing  to  make  me  a  solemn  promise  never  (unless  by  my  desire)  to 
reveal  the  transaction  to  any  one.  Utterly  broken-spirited  and 
miserable,  I  consented,  and,  taking  leave  of  my  preserver,  returaed 
with  Mr.  Muir  to  Floi'ence.  Frora  that  day,  imtil  our  accidental 
meeting  in  Park  Lane,  I  saw  Mr.  Coverdale  no  more.  What  it  has 
cost  me  to  write  this  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe,  but  that  every 
word  of  it  is  the  simple  truth,  I  call  Heaven  to  witness ;  that  the 
knowledge  of  it  may  for  ever  reconcile  all  differences  between  you 
and  your  noble,  generous-hearted  husband,  and  that  you  may  be 
restored  to  make  him  as  happy  as  I  am  cei-tain  it  is  in  your  power  to 
do,  is  the  wish  and  prayer  of  one  who,  if  she  has  erred  deeply,  has 
suffered  equally,  as  she  hopes  not  without  some  good  result. 

"Arabella  Ckofton." 

When  Harry  had  finished  reading  the  letter,  he  returned  it  to  his 
wife,  observing, — 

"  That  is,  as  she  says,  a  faithful  account  of  all  that  ever  occun-ed 
between  us.  You  now  see  why  I  was  unable  to  explain  to  you  the 
apparent  mystery.  I  hold  a  promise  to  be  so  sacred  a  thing,  that 
nothing — not  even  the  loss  of  your  affection — could  induce  me  to 
break  one.  And  now,  my  poor  child,  I  hope  you  are  satisfied  that  I 
indeed  love  you  with  my  whole  heart,  and  that  the  affection  of  a 
thousand  Arabella  Crof tons  would  never  compensate  me  for  the  loss 
of  one  bright  smile  or  fond  look  from  my  own  darling  wife." 

Alice  attempted  to  reply,  but  her  heart  was  too  full  for  words : 
bursting  into  a  flood  of  tears  of  mingled  joy  and  contrition,  she  flung 
her  arms  around  her  husband's  neck,  and  in  that  prolonged  embrace 
ended  once  and  for  ever  all  Harry  Coverdale's  matrimonial  disputes 
and  discomforts. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  375 


CHAPTER  LXIII. 

LOKD   ALFRED   SEVERS   HIS   LEADING   STRINGS. 

Lord  Alfred  Courtland  and  Horace  D'Almayne  were  both 
members  of  the  Pandemonium,  at  which  notable  club  the  latter, 
when  he  had  no  rich  victim  on  whom  to  quarter  himself,  chiefly 
spent  his  days.  The  visit  which  Lord  Alfred  had  paid  to  Coverdale 
Park,  and  his  subsequent  mission  to  Hazlehurst  Grange,  had 
impressed  him  deeply  and  brought  out  all  his  best  qualities.  On 
his  return  to  town,  he  took  himself  to  task  more  seriously  than  he 
had  yet  done  for  the  careless  and  extravagant  life  he  had  been 
leading ;  and,  warned  by  experience  how  futile  such  repentance  might 
prove,  unless  followed  by  some  practical  eiforts  at  self-reform,  he 
set  to  work  with  his  accustomed  impetuosity  to  remedy  the  evils 
resulting  from  his  injudicious  attempt  to  become  a  fast "  man-about- 
town."  The  Honourable  Billy  Whipcord  relieved  him  of  one  difiiculty 
by  purchasing  Don  Pasquale  for  the  same  amount  which  Lord 
Alfred  had  given  Tirrett  for  the  animal,  and  with  the  money  thus 
obtained,  together  with  his  winnings  on  the  steeple-chase,  he,  like  an 
honest  fellow,  paid  all  his  creditors.  Feeling  much  happier  for  this 
step  in  the  right  direction,  he  determined  to  follow  it  up  by  another, 
and  accordingly  wi-ote  to  his  father,  saying  that,  bis  health  being 
now  re-established,  it  was  his  wish  to  return  to  Cambridge,  and 
endeavour  to  make  up  for  lost  time.  Having  dispatched  this  letter 
and  ridden  for  a  couple  of  hours  in  the  Park,  the  necessity  of  dining 
occurred  to  him,  and  he  turned  his  horse's  head  towards  the 
Pandemonium.  As  he  rode  thither,  it  struck  him  that  he  might 
possibly  encounter  Horace  DAlmayne,  and  he  bethought  him  of  his 
promise  to  Harry  Coverdale  to  give  up  the  acquaintance  of  the  man 
whom  he  had  so  incautiously  trusted,  and  who  had  abused  that  trust 
by  leading  him  into  evil  whenever  an  opportunity  presented  itself 
for  so  doing. 

Tes !  disagreeable  as  it  was,  perhaps  even  dangerous  (for 
D  Abnayne  was  not  a  man  to  insult  with  impunity),  he  would  redeem 
his  pledged  word — he  would  show  his  gratitude  to  Coverdale.  If 
DAlmayne  was  at  the  club,  he  would  cut  him  in  a  marked  and 
unmistakable  manner!  As  these  thoughts  were  passing  through 
his  brain,  he  became  aware  of  a  young  man,  flashly  dressed  and 
mounted  on  a  magnificent  horse,  who,  as  he  passed,  took  off  his  hat 
to  him.  Confused  for  the  moment  by  the  idea  that  it  must  be  some 
acquaintance  whom  he  ought  to  recognize,  he  bowed  stiffly,  where- 
upon the  horseman  wheeled  his  steed,  and  rode  up  to  Lord  Alfred's 
side, — 


376  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

"  I  beg  your  Lordsliip's  pa,rdon,"  he  becran,  "  but  I  wish  to  say  a 
few  words  to  you.    Does  not  your  Lordship  remember  me  ?  " 

"  Your  behaviour  towards  me,  Mr.  Tirrett,  was  of  a  nature  neither 
easily  to  be  forgotten,  nor  calculated  to  make  me  desirous  of 
cultivating  your  fui-ther  acquaintance.  I  have  the  honour  of  wishing 
you  good  morning." 

Saying  this  with  the  hauteur  and  dignity  of  the  whole  House  of 
Peers  combined,  Lord  Alfred  turned  his  head  away  from  his  unwished- 
f  or  acquaintance  and  rode  on ;  but  Tirrett  had  an  object  in  view,  and 
was,  therefore,  not  to  be  so  easily  shaken  olf . 

"  I  won't  deny,"  he  said  coolly,  "  that  your  Lordship  has  good 
reason  to  be  angry  with  me,  for  I  played  you  a  trick  that,  if  I'd  been 
a  gentleman,  and  your  Lordship's  equal,  I  should  consider  a  very 
dirty  one ;  but,  if  yoiu:  Lordship  will  consider  a  minute,  you'll 
perceive  the  difference  between  us." 

Amused,  in  spite  of  his  anger,  at  the  fellow's  cool  audacity.  Lord 
Alfred  replied,  with  a  sarcastic  laugh, — 

"  I  should  scarcely  imagine  that  would  require  any  very  deep 
thinking  to  discover  !  " 

"  Tour  Lordship  is  sharp  upon  me  this  afternoon,"  observed 
Tirrett,  in  no  way  disconcerted,  "  but  I  was  going  to  remark  that 
horse-dealing  and  horse-racing,  which  you  gentlemen  enter  into  for 
amusement,  is  the  regular  business  by  which  such  men  as  myself 
gain  oiu'  livelihood ;  it's  a  ticklish  sort  of  trade  at  the  best  of 
times,  for  we're  liable  to  be  deceived  and  cheated  on  all  sides  as 
well  as  other  people ;  so  a  fellow's  obliged  to  look  out  and  never 
throw  away  a  chance.  Now  your  job  was  just  this, — the  Don  was 
recovering  from  a  bad  sprain  in  the  off -foreleg  when  I  sold  him  to 
you." 

"  Pleasant  intelligence  for  the  Honourable  Billy ! "  miu'mured 
Lord  Alfred. 

"  I  thought  he'd  stand]training,  but  expected  he'd  break  down  in  the 
race,  and  as  I  never  like  to  ride  a  losing  horse  if  I  can  help  it,  I  made 
my  book  to  win  on  Black  Eagle,  but  I  was  obliged  to  promise  to  ride 
Don  Pasquale  for  you,  or  else  you  wouldn't  have  bought  him.  I  don't 
say  I  acted  right  by  you ;  but  I  mean  to  say  that  I  didn't  act  any 
worse  than  others  that  call  themselves  gentlemen  and  your  friends 
too ! " 

'*  Do  you  allude  to  any  one  in  particular,  may  I  ask  P — it  is'  as  well 
to  know  one's  friends  from  one's  foes,"  inquired  Lord  Alfred,  his 
curiosity  beginning  to  awaken. 

"  I  allude  to  Horace  D'Almayne.  Your  Lordship  best  knows 
whether  you  consider  him  your  friend,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  certainly  did  at  one  time,  if  I  do  not  now ;  but  what  has  he  to 
do  with  the  affair  ?  "  asked  Lord  Alfred,  his  attention  now  fully 
aroused. 

In  answer  to  this  question,  TiiTett  entered  into  a  full  account  of 
the  plot  connected  with  the  white-bait  dinner,  his  own  acquaintance 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  377 

•witli  Captain  O'Brien,  and  other  particulars,  witli  which  the  reader 
is  ah-eady  acquainted,  dwelling  especially  on  D'Almayne's  advice 
to  him  to  throw  over  Lord  Alfred  and  ride  for  Captain  Annesley, 
for  which  D'Almayne  bargained  to  receive  a  percentage  on  his 
winnings. 

"  And  now,"  he  continued,  "  if  I  can  afford  your  Lordship  proof  of 
the  truth  of  my  statement,  in  D'Almayne's  o^vn  hand-writing,  and 
let  you  have  that  proof,  so  that  you  may,  if  you  please,  coufront  him 
with  it,  perhaps  your  Lordship  will  set  that  off  against  my  refusal 
to  ride  the  steeple-chase  for  you." 

"  Let  me  see  your  proof,  sir ;  I  shall  then  be  better  able  to  judge 
of  my  amomit  of  obligation  to  you,"  was  the  curt  reply. 

Thus  urged,  TiiTctt  drew  from  his  pocket  the  identical  epistle 
which  D'Almayne  had  written  to  him  from  Lord  Alfred's  lodgings 
on  the  morning  (as  the  date  testified)  before  he  started  for  the 
continent.  Lord  Alfred  perfectly  remembered  his  writing  the  note; 
but  the  authenticity  of  the  document  was  established  beyond  a  doubt 
by  the  paper,  which  was  stamped  with  a  coronet  and  the  cyi^her  A.  0. 
As  this  proof  of  his  Mentor's  treachery  was  brought  before  him, 
Lord  Alfred  coloured  with  anger,  and  drawing  out  his  pocket-book, 
he  said, — 

"  You  must  permit  me  to  keep  this  document,  Mr,  Tirrett ;  but,  as 
I  consider  it  of  value,  I  shall  give  you  an  equivalent  for  it."  Then 
handing  him  a  ten-pound  note,  he  continued,  "  Note  for  note  is  a  fair 
exchange." 

Tirrett  glanced  at  the  money  as  if  he  had  half  a  mind  to  return  it ; 
but  a  moment's  reflection  served  to  dispel  the  romantic  scruple,  and 
adhering  to  his  rule  of  never  throwing  a  chance  away,  he  pocketed 
the  cash,  and  raising  his  hat,  began, — 

"  Really,  your  Lordship's  too  liberal !  I  am  off  for  Yorkshire  to- 
morrow morning ;  but  I  shall  be  up  again  before  the  hunting  season 
with  a  lot  of  very  first-rate  horses ;  and  as  I  hope  I've  now  made  all 
straight  with  your  Lordship,  I  shall  be  highly  honoured  if  your 
Lordship  will  look  through  the  stable  before  I  let  the  dealers  see 
them." 

Then,  with  another  low  bow,  he  turned  his  hoi'se's  head,  and 
touching  him  with  the  spur,  cantered  off,  leaving  Lord  Alfred  to  his 
own  reflections,  which  ran  somewhat  after  the  following  fashion : — 

"  So  much  for  there  being  honour  amongst  thieves  !  Tirrett  coolly 
sacrifices  his  accomjjlice  in  order  to  retain  my  custom !  What  an 
inconceivable  scoundrel  that  Horace  D'Almayne  turns  out!  I'm 
about  as  easy-tempered  a  fellow  as  can  be  ;  too  much  so,  I'm  afraid ; 
for  I  often  say  Yes  when  I  feel  I  ought  to  say  No;  but  I'll  cut  the 
swindler  dead  at  the  club,  or  wherever  I  meet  him,  and  if  he  does  not 
like  it,  I'll  show  him  his  note  to  Tirrett,  or  better  still,  read  it  out  at 
the  club  ;  such  perfidy  ought  to  be  exposed,  and  I'll  not  flinch  from 
doing  so.  Coverdale  shall  see  that  his  example  of  straightforAvard 
manliness  is  not  quite  thrown  away  upon  me.    I've  followed  a  bad 


378  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

model  witli  tolerable  success,  and  reaped  the  fruits  of  sucli  folly,  and 
now  I'll  try  whether  I  cannot  imitate  a  ^ood  one.  I'd  do  a  great  deal 
to  reinstate  myself  in  the  good  opinion  of  Harry  and  his  wife ;  they've 
been  very  kind  to  me,  too  kind,  for  it  overpowers  me ;  but  of  course 
they  must  have  lost  all  respect  for  me— Harry  thinks  me  a  soft, 
foolish  boy,  and  Alice,  a  weak,  sentimental  puppy.  Well,  I'll  do  my 
best  to  gain  their  esteem,  and  if  I  fail,  I  shall  be  none  the  worse  for 
having  tried.  How  pretty  that  little  Emily  is !  prettier  than  her 
sister,  I  think ;  and  she  believes  in  me  to  a  great  extent,  that's  some 
comfort ! " 

By  the  time  his  Lordship's  meditations  had  reached  this  point,  his 
Lordship's  horse  had  reached  the  Pandemonium,  which  fact,  forcing 
itself  on  his  Lordship's  attention,  he  dismounted,  and,  consigning  the 
animal  to  the  care  of  his  groom,  entered  the  club-room,  when,  of 
course,  the  first  person  he  encountered  was  Horace  D'Almayne. 
Owing  to  Lord  Alfred's  absence  from  town  D'Almayne  had  not  seen 
him  since  his  return  from  the  continent,  he,  therefore,  advanced  to 
meet  him  with  the  greatest  empressement,  greeting  him  with  the 
usual  "Ah !  mon  cher,"  which  he  reserved  for  those  of  his  associates 
whom  he  particularly  delighted  to  honour.  Great,  therefore,  was  his 
astonishment  and  disgust  when  Lord  Alfred  walked  past  him  with 
his  head  in  the  air  and  his  eyes  immovably  fixed  tipon  the  cornice  of 
the  apartment. 

For  a  moment  D'Almayne  could  scarcely  believe  the  evidence  of 
his  senses,  so  much  at  variance  was  his  late  pupil's  conduct  with 
Horace's  pre-conceived  ideas  of  his  gentle,  yielding  character ;  but 
a  covert  smile  on  the  faces  of  Barrington  and  several  of  the  usual 
club-loungers  was  sufiicient  to  convince  him  of  the  irritating  fact 
that,  in  the  presence  of  the  very  men  before  whom  he  had  often 
boasted  of  and  paraded  his  intimacy  with  and  influence  over  Lord 
Alfred  Courtland,  that  young  nobleman  had  most  decidedly  and 
unequivocally  cut  him.  For  some  days  past  D'Almayne  had 
perceived  a  change  to  have  "come  o'er  the  spirit"  in  which  he  had 
been  received  by  society  at  large.  Intimates  had  suddenly  become 
slight  acquaintances ;  slight  acqiiaintances  had  grown  strangely  short- 
sighted ;  and  when  he  forced  himself  upon  their  notice,  appeared 
afflicted  with  a  painful  degree  of  stiffness  in  the  "  upper  spine." 
Still,  until  that  moment,  no  one  had  ventured  actvially  to  cut  him. 
Now  the  matter  had  come  to  a  climax,  Horace  felt  himself  brought 
fairly  to  bay,  and  in  such  a  frame  of  mind  he  was  dangerous.  After 
Lord  Alfred  had  passed  D'Almayne,  he  touched  the  Honourable 
William  Barrington,  alias  Billy  Whipcord,  on  the  arm,  and  drawing 
him  aside,  said, — 

"  I  have  just  been  let  into  a  pleasant  little  secret ;  it  seems  that 
the  reason  my  dishonourable  young  acquaintance,  Mr.  TiiTctt,  set 
his  face  so  detenninately  against  riding  Don  Pasquale  was  that  the 
notable  quadruped  had  a  screw  loose  in  the  back  sinew  of  one  of  its 
inestimable  fore-legs,  and  Tirrett  was  afraid  he  would  break  down  in 
the  race.    Now  as  I  have  become  aware  of  this  only  within  the  last 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  379 

half  hour,  I  daresay  I  have  asked  and  you  have  given  too  much  for 
the  brute.  '  Caveat  emptor '  may  be  a  very  good  general  maxim,  but  I 
never  can  see  why  a  gentleman  should  act  about  selling  a  horse  in  a 
manner  undeserving  that  title — so,  if  you  find  the  creature  unsound, 
I  shall  be  happy  to  hand  you  back  a  fifty-poxind  note,  or  more,  if  you 
require  it.  I've  passed  my  '  little  go,'  as  a  patron  of  the  turf,  and 
wish  to  come  out  of  it  with  clean  hands  ere  I  take  my  leave  of  that 
noble  pastime." 

"  Really,  my  dear  Com'tland,  yoxi're  too  chivalrous,"  was  the  reply  ; 
"  but  I'm  quite  content  with  my  bargain  ;  the  Don  is  sound  enough 
to  answer  my  purpose  "  (he  had  sold  him  that  morning,  and  pocketed 
a  cool  hundi-ed  by  the  transfer),  "  and  if  he  were  not,  I  have  pur- 
chased him,  and  must  abide  the  loss  ; — but,  excuse  me,  are  you  aware 
that  you  have  just  cut  Horace  D'Almayne  ?  " 

"  As  he  deserves  to  be  cut  by  every  honourable  man,"  interrupted 
Lord  Alfred, "  and,  for  reasons  which  I  will  ex})lain  here,  before  every 
member  of  this  club  now  present,  if  he  has  the  audacity  to — to 
venture  to  force  himself  upon  me,"  he  continued  angrily,  as  he  per- 
ceived D'Almayne  sauntering  up  to  him,  with  his  accustomed  listless 
gait  indeed,  but  with  a  sparkle  in  his  eye  and  a  red  spot  on  each 
cheek,  which  to  those  who  were  well  acquainted  with  him  showed 
that  he  was  unusually  excited. 

"  Has  foreign  travel  and  the  lapse  of  a  fortnight  really  altered  me 
so  much  that  your  Lordship  is  unable  to  recognize  an  old  friend ;  or 
to  what  other  circumstance  am  I  to  attribute  your  singular  failure  of 
memory  when  I  accosted  you  on  your  entrance  ?  "  he  inquired  in  his 
most  superciliously  polite  tone  and  accent. 

"  Attribute  it  to  its  right  cause,"  was  the  spirited  reply ;  "  that  I 
desire  to  associate  only  with  men  of  honour,  an  idiosyncrasy  which 
precludes  my  longer  availing  myself  of  the  privilege  of  Mr.  D'Al- 
mayne's  society." 

"  In  fact,  that,  having  made  use  of  me  to  convert  a  raw  school-boy 
into  a  very  tame  specimen  of  a  fast  man,  yoii  fancy  now  you  are  able 
to  run  alone,  and  that  it  will  add  to  your  reputation  for  fastness  to 
kick  down  the  ladder  by  which  you  have  mounted  the  social  mole-hill 
you  stand  on,"  was  the  sneering  answer ;  "  but  you  have  mistaken 
your  man,  my  Lord.  Horace  D'Almayne  is  not  a  puppet  of  which 
you  hold  the  wires  to  dance,  or  to  be  thrown  aside,  at  your  Lordship's 
pleasure.  Had  you  simply  chosen  to  deny  me  your  further  acquain- 
tance, I  should  have  set  the  gain  of  valuable  minutes  against  the  loss 
of  one  of  the  social  incubi  my  good-nature  has  entailed  upon  me,  and 
overlooked  the  boyish  impertinence  ;  but  as  you  have  seen  fit  to  insult 
me  publicly,  nothing  short  of  an  equally  public  apology  will  satisfy 
me.  Should  you  be  infatuated  enough  to  refuse  me  this,  I  will  for 
once  flatter  your  Lordship's  vanity  by  supposing  you  man  enough  to 
be  aware  of  the  alternative." 

As  D'Almayne  spoke,  he  drew  himself  up  with  an  expression 
of  contemptuous  superiority,  half-pitying,  haK-defiant,  which  he 
imagined  highly  effective. 


380  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

It  certainly  liad  one  effect,  that  of  rousing  Lord  Alfi-ed's  temper  to 
tlie  utmost  extent ;  and,  with  flashing  eyes  and  quivering  lips,  he 
replied, — 

"  If  I  could  believe  that  you  had  one  thought  or  feeling  of  a  gentle- 
man in  your  composition  which  my  conduct  could  wound,  I  would 
accept  one  of  the  alternatives  you  propose  ;  but  to  a  man  who  can 
abuse  the  confidence  of  friendship  by  availing  himself  of  it  to  swindle 
and  betray  the  friend  who  trusted  him, — to  such  a  low,  sordid  black- 
leg, I  will  neither  apologize,  nor  will  I  afford  him  the  satisfaction  due 
to  wounded  honour." 

For  a  moment,  as  D'Almayne's  glance  met  that  of  the  man  he  had 
wronged,  his  self-possession  failed  him  ;  and,  ignorant  to  what  extent 
Lord  Alfred  might  have  become  cognizant  of  his  nefarious  iDractices, 
he  hesitated  how  far  he  dared  provoke  any  disclosure.  But  it  was 
too  late  to  retract :  his  social  position,  on  which  depended  his  very 
means  of  existence,  was  at  stake;  and  as  the  thought  crossed  his 
mind,  the  gambler  spirit  awoke  within  him.  He  would  carry  the 
matter  with  a  high  hand;  a  bold  course  was  always  the  wisest; 
Fortim.e  would  favoui-  those  who  trusted  her.  It  was  his  only  article 
of  faith,  and  he  clung  to  it  with  the  pertinacity  of  a  zealot. 

"  Highly  melodramatic ! "  he!  said,  with  a  sarcastic  sneer.  "  Tour 
Lordship  has  a  real  speciality  for  juvenile  tragedy.  But  may  I  be 
allowed  to  inquire  what  pai-ticular  perfidy  of  mine  has  elicited  the 
burst  of  virtuous  indignation  which  you  have  selected  for  yoiu* 
histrionic  debut  ?  " 

"  I  was  willing  to  have  spared  you  the  disga-ace  of  a  public  ex- 
posure," was  Lord  Alfred's  reply ;  "  but  since  you  choose  thus  to 
provoke  your  fate,  I  can  have  to  reason  for  longer  concealing  the 
cause  which  has  led  me  to  consider  you  unfit  for  the  society  of 
honourable  men."  Tiiming  to  Barrington,  who  happened  to  be 
standing  next  him,  he  continued,  "  You,  sir,  and  other  gentlemen 
present,  may  remember  how,  not  many  weeks  since,  a  certain  steeple- 
chase rider,  named  Tirrett,  suddenly  left  me  in  the  Im-ch,  by  refusing 
at  the  last  minute  to  ride  for  me,  by  which  rascality  I  was  on  the 
point  of  losing  the  race,  upon  which  I  had  made  an  imprudently 
heavy  book.  Mr.  D'Almayne  was  at  that  time  abroad,  and,  I  presvime, 
imagined,  owing  to  that  circumstance,  he  might  transact  a  little 
profitable  black-leg  business  with  impunity.  He  accordingly  wrote 
a  note  to  Tirrett,  suggesting  to  him  the  scheme  which  he  afterwards 
attempted  to  carry  out ;  stipulating,  in  case  of  its  success,  to  be  paid 
fifty  ]30unds  and  a  percentage  on  Tirrett's  winnings." 

As  Lord  Alfred  concluded,  a  murmur  of  disap]jrobation  ran  round 
the  room,  and  all  eyes  were  tmnied  upon  Horace  D'Almayne. 

"  A  cleverly  devised  tale !  "  he  said  scornfully  ;  "  a  mole-hill 
ingeniously  inflated  until  it  appears  a  mountain.  I  certainly  betted 
on  the  race ;  I  may  have  given  the  jockey  Tirrett  the  benefit  of  my 
suggestions  on  the  subject,  as  any  other  man  who  has  ever  been  on 
the  turf  would  have  done ;  but  that  all  this  demonstrates  anything, 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  381 

except  Lord  Alfred  Courtland's  deplorable  ipfiiorance  of  that  said  art 
of  '  life  about  town,'  in  which  he  appears  to  have  striven  in  vain  to 
become  a  proficient,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  conceive." 

"  Perhaps  the  simplest  answer  to  Mr.  D'Almayne's  statement  will 
be  to  place  the  note,  on  which  the  foundations  of  my  '  mole-hiU 
inflated  into  a  mountain '  rest,  in  Mr.  Barrington's  hands,  asking 
him,  for  his  own  satisfaction,  and  for  that  of  the  other  gentlemen 
present,  to  read  it  aloud." 

As  he  spoke.  Lord  Alfred  drew  from  his  pocket  the  note  given  him 
by  Tirrett,  and  handed  it  to  Barrington,  who,  after  a  moment's 
hesitation,  read  aloud  the  following  notable  epistle,  which  the  reader 
may  remember  was  written  by  D'Almayne,  with  his  usual  cool 
audacity,  in  Lord  Alfred  Courtland's  lodgings : — 

"Dear  Tirrett,— Your  game  is  clear :  let  A.  C and  O'B- — n 

each  believe  that  you  will  ride  for  him,  and  at  the  last  minute  throw 
both  over.  In  this  case.  Captain  Annesley's  Black  Eagle  is  safe  to 
win,  as  I  daresay  you  know  better  than  I  do  ;  thus  you  will  perceive 
how  to  make  a  paying  book.    If  I  prove  a  true  prophet,  I  shall 

expect  a  fifty  pound  note  from  you,  as  O'B n  will  (before  you 

quan-el  with  hiin)   tell  you    I    got    up    the    whole    affair  myself, 

introducing  him  to  A.  C ,  &c. 

"  I  remain,  yours  faithfully, 
"  You'll  knov^t  Who  w^hen  I  claim  the  Tin. 

"  P.S. — If  you  make  a  heavy  purse  out  of  the  business,  I  shall 
expect  ten  per  cent,  on  all  beyond  five  hundred  pounds." 

As  Barrington  ceased  reading,  D'Almayne  obseiwed  coolly, — 

"Exactly  as  I  expected — an  anonymous  letter,  supposed  to  be 
mine  on  the  word  of  a  blackguard  horsedealer  (who  probably  wrote 
it  himself  to  conceal  his  own  rascality) ,  and  eagerly  caught  at  by 
this  fiery  young  gentleman,  who,  anxious  to  prove  that  he  is  out  of 
leading-strings,  gladly  seeks  any  pretext  for  quarrelling  with  one  to 
whom  his  Lordship  has  a  painful  consciousness  that  he  appears  no 
more  a  hero  than  to  his  valet  de  chambre.  Tirrett  declares  that  I 
wrote  this  letter,  I  say  I  did  no  such  thing  ;  there  is  no  proof  about 
the  matter,  it  is  simply  a  question  of  assertion — Tirrett's  word 
against  mine.  I  leave  it  to  the  gentlemen  present  to  say  which  is 
most  worthy  of  credit." 

"  Allow  me  to  mention  one  small  circumstance  which  may  assist 
them  to  an-ive  at  a  just  decision,"  interposed  Lord  Alfred  quietly  ; 
"  I  have  a  perfect  recollection  of  Mr.  D'Almayne's  writing  a  note, 
much  resembling  the  one  in  question,  at  my  lodgings,  on  the 
morning  before  he  left  England.  If  I  am  right  in  my  conjecture, 
the  date  would  be  the  5th  of  last  month,  and  the  post-mark 
Pall  Mall ;  may  I  trouble  you  to  ascertain  the  point,  Mr.  Bar- 
rington? " 

"  Right  in  both  respects,"  was  the  unhesitating  reply.    "  Moreover, 


382  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

here  is  a  coronet  and  the  initials  A.  C.  stamped  on  the  paper,  a 
corroboration  which  quite  satisfies  my  mind  on  the  subject." 

D'Almayne  glanced  round,  and  read  his  sentence  on  the  faces 
which  surrounded  him — faces  of  men,  who,  in  the  insolence  of  his 
false  position,  he  had  made  to  feel  the  lash  of  his  covert  sarcasm. 
Amongst  the  many  there  he  could  not  discern  one  friend.  But  his 
self-possession  did  not  forsake  him. 

"  Of  course,  all  against  me,"  he  said  ;  then  turning  to  Lord  Alfred, 
he  continued, — "  Your  Lordship  once  expressed  a  doubt  as  to  the 
social  value  of  a  title;  you  now,  I  shonld  imagine,  perceive  your 
error :  for  the  rest,  the  letter  is  an  impudent  forgery,  and  the  accusa- 
tion false ;  but  until  I  can  prove  the  whole  story  the  clumsy  fabrica- 
tion I  know  it  to  be,  I  shall  leave  the  matter  where  it  stands,  unless" 
— and  he  glanced  round  the  circle  with  a  savage  light  in  his  cold, 
grey  eyes,  which  no  one  cared  to  meet—"  unless  any  gentleman 
feels  inclined  to  make  a  personal  affair  of  it,  in  which  case  I  shall 
have  much  pleasure  in  affording  him  the  satisfaction  he  requii-es." 

No  one  appearing  desirous  of  improving  the  occasion  as  D  Almayne 
had  suggested,  the  baffled  intriguer  stalked  out  of  the  room  with  a 
look  of  scornful  indifference  on  his  features,  and  rage  and  hatred 
burning  in  his  breast. 


CHAPTER  LXIV. 

D' ALMAYNE   PLATS  HIS  LAST  CARD. 

"Leave  me,  sir !  I  consider  yoiu*  very  presence  an  insult !  " 

"  Before  you  drive  me  from  you  for  ever,  I  am  determined  to  set 
plainly  before  you  the  results  which  must  inevitably  follow  your 
decision,  and  show  you  unmistakably  the  difference  between  the 
future  which  awaits  you  and  the  lot  which  might  even  yet  be  yours 
if  you  have  only  sufficient  strength  of  character  to  cast  aside  the 
meaningless  conventionalities  of  a  false  and  hollow  state  of  society." 
D Almayne — for  as  the  reader  has  no  doubt  ab-eady  conjectm-ed,  the 
foregoing  speech  proceeded  from  his  lips — paused  for  a  moment  to 
control  the  excitement  under  which,  despite  his  endeavours  to 
conceal  it,  he  was  evidently  labouring.  Kate  Crane  appeared  again 
about  to  interrupt  him ;  but  by  a  glance  and  a  gesUire  of  the  hand 
he  resti-ained  her,  while  he  continued : — "  Ton  talk  of  marriage 
as  a  holy  tie,  and  where  such  a  bond  is  indeed  one  of  the  heart,  I, 
sceptic  and  libertine  as  you  consider  me,  entirely  agree  with  you; 
but  such  a  term  cannot  apply  to  the  cruel  mockery  which  has  bound 
youth,  beauty,  and  intellect  to  age,  decrepitude,  and  imbecility. 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  3S3 

But  putting  aside  all  idea  of  affection,  the  temptation  wliicli  led  you 
to  commit  this  outrage  against  every  better  feeling  of  your  nature 
exists  no  longer.  Mr.  Crane  is  a  ruined  man;  if,  therefore,  you 
adhere  to  the  conventional  prejudice  which  you  vainly  endeavour  to 
dignify  by  the  name  of  duty,  you  have  nothing  to  hope  but  to 
sacrifice  to  it  the  best  years  of  your  life,  years  in  which  you  will  still 
be  young,  when  your  queenly  beauty  and  bright  clear  intellect  will  fit 
you  to  shine  in  and  lead  society  of  a  class  in  which  your  elegant 
tastes  and  refined  sympathies  would  meet  with  a  gratification 
sufl&cient  in  itself  to  render  life  one  scene  of  pleasurable  excitement. 
But,  more  than  this,  you  are  ambitious  ;  I  can  read  it  in  your  flash- 
ing eye,  in  the  curl  of  your  haughty  lip.  I  would  open  to  you  such 
a  field  for  that  ambition  as  in  your  wildest  moments  you  have  never 
dreamed  of.  You  do  not  believe  me !  you  consider  me  a  base,  un- 
scrupulous adventurer.  If  it  wei'e  so,  what  have  I  ever  had  to  call 
out  the  higher,  nobler  qualities  of  my  nature  ?  Nothing !  But  with 
such  a  soul  as  yours  to  urge  and  inspire  me,  and  with  your  love  as  my 
reward,  to  what  height  might  not  my  genius  soar  !  What  was  the 
gi'eat  Napoleon  but  a  Corsican  adventurer  ?  and  yet  his  was  a  career 
an  Emperor's  daughter  was  proud  to  share.  You  think  I  am 
romancing — talking  bombastic  nonsense ;  but  it  is  not  so.  In 
America,  at  the  present  time,  there  is  an  immense  field  for  talent. 
I  know  the  character  of  the  nation  well,  know  how  both  its  strong 
and  weak  points  could  be  turned  to  account,  and  form  the  ladder  by 
which  I  might  climb  even  to  the  President's  seat,  and  once  there ! — 
Presidents  have  ere  now  become  Emperors — from  democracy  to 
despotism  is  the  natural  transition — history  proves  it.  Since  I  have 
known  yon,  a  change  has  come  over  my  every  thought  and  feeling  ; 
hitherto  I  have  exerted  my  talents  merely  to  supply  my  own 
fastidious  requirements,  but  now  my  ideas  are  enlarged,  my  aspira- 
tions heightened.  Broiight  i;p  from  my  earliest  childhood  among 
men,  clever  indeed,  but  without  one  pure  thought,  one  disinterested 
feeling,  I  became — what  I  am.  You  have  excited  in  me  higher, 
nobler  feelings.  I  will  not  deny  that  your  beauty  first  attracted  me ; 
but  since  I  have  known  you,  and  each  day  discovered  new  qualities 
with  which  I  could  sympathize,  I  have  learned  to  love  yoiT  with  the 
only  deep,  real  sentiment  I  have  ever  yet  felt  for  one  of  your  sex. 
Hitherto  I  have  looked  on  women  as  mere  toys  wherewith  to  solace 
one's  leisui-e  hours ;  but  in  you  I  recognize  a  loftier  nature ;  I  feel 
not  only  in  the  presence  of  an  intelligence  equal  to  my  own,  but  I 
have  an  instinctive  perception  that  you  might  become  my  leading 
star,  my  tutelary  deity !  Kate,  hear  me !  my  destiny  is  in  your 
hands.  Fly  with  me  to  America — everything  is  prepared ;  and  when 
we  aiTive  on  the  soil  of  a  new  world,  yoii  shall  become  the  bride  of  a 
man  already  possessed  of  riches  sufficient  to  obtain  for  you  luxuries 
greater  than  you  have  yet  enjoyed,  and  with  a  gift  riches  are 
Ijowerless  to  procure — talent  which  has  never  yet  failed  me,  however 
critical  the  position — talent  which,  henceforward,  you  shall  direct 


384  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

into  any  coiu'se  tliat  best  may  win  yoTir  approval ;  knowing-  that 
whatever  career  you  may  select,  the  sole  reward  I  shall  seek  will  be 
your  appi'obation — my  only  happiness,  your  affection.  You  have 
not  heard  me  unmoved — you  cannot,  will  not  refuse  me  !  " 

As  D'Almayne  concluded,  he  fixed  his  eyes  on  Kate's  face,  as 
thou,^h  he  soui^ht  to  read  there  his  sentence  before  her  lips  should 
pronounce  it,  while  his  cheeks  flushed,  and  his  eyes  glistened  with 
unfeigned  emotion.  For  an  instant,  unable  to  bear  the  intensity  of 
his  glance,  Kate  turned  away  with  a  heightened  coloui*,  then, 
recovering  her  self-possession  by  a  powerful  effort,  she  replied 
calmly, — 

"  I  have  heard  you  thus  far,  Mr.  D'Almayne,  without  inteiTuption, 
partly  because  I  believe  that,  for  once,  you  are  speaking  under  the 
influence  of  real  feeling ;  partly  because  I  owe  you,  as  I  imagine,  a 
debt  of  gratitude  for  your  kindness  to  my  brother;  these  reasons 
have  induced  me  to  listen  to  addresses,  every  word  of  which  I 
consider  as  the  deepest  insult  which  can  be  offered  to  a  pure-minded 
woman.  You  tell  me  I  married  Mr.  Crane  for  money;  I  neither 
admit  nor  repel  the  accusation — like  most  taimts,  it  contains  a  half- 
truth,  so  disguised  by  sarcasm  as  to  appear  a  whole  one.  But  how 
doubly  sordid  should  I  be,  were  I  to  act  on  your  suggestion  and  quit 
my  husband, — who,  if  yoiu'  supposition  be  coi'rect,  I  have  sufficiently 
wronged  akeady, — because  he  has,  as  you  inform  me,  been  swindled 
out  of  his  wealth — how  I  leave  your  own  conscience  to  inform  you  ! 
The  fact  that  he  is  poor,  and  that  you  profess  yourself  rich,  is  enough 
to  carry  conviction  to  my  mind.  But  I  will  not  enter  further  into 
the  question  :  suffice  it  that  your  sophistries  have  failed  to  blind  me, 
and  that  I  am  still  able  to  discern  the  path  of  duty — let  it  lead 
whither  it  may,  I  am  resolved  to  follow  it.  I  have  given  you,  as  you 
requested,  a  fair  hearing  and  a  deliberate  reply.  For  your  kindness 
to  my  brother  I  again  thank  yo\i.  As  I  gather  that  you  are  about 
to  leave  this  country,  and  can  well  imagine  it  may  be  necessary  for 
you  to  do  so,  farewell  for  ever !  I  set  your  one  good  deed  against 
your  evil  ones,  and  bear  you  no  ill-will.  We  part  neither  as  friends 
nor  foes." 

As  Kate  spoke,  she  rose  to  quit  the  room,  but  D'Almayne  inter- 
posed between  her  and  the  door — 

"  One  moment,"  he  said  in  his  usual  tone  of  sarcasm  ;  "  my  modesty 
cannot  permit  me  to  depart,  taking  credit  for  a  good  deed  which  I 
have  never  performed.  It  was  not  I  who  rescued  your  brother  from 
his  difficulty ;  though,  as  a  stepping-stone  to  your  favour,  I  would 
willingly  have  done  so :  for  that  act  of  kindness  you  are  indebted 
to-" 

"  Whom  ?  "  inquired  Kate  eagerly. 

"  One  to  whom,  if  he  had  this  morning  pleaded  as  I  have  done,  I 
fancy  even  your  rigid  virtue  might  have  afforded  a  kinder  answer — 
your  cousin,  Arthur  Hazlehurst ! " 

D'Almayne  spoke  at  random,  but  the  arrow  wounded  as  dee])]y  as 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  385 

even  his  disappointed  malevolence  could  have  desired.  With  every 
vestige  of  colour  banished  from  her  pale  cheek,  Kate  sank  back  upon 
her  chair,  and  drawing  her  breath  with  diflBculty,  i^laced  her  hand 
upon  her  side,  as  if  in  pain.  Heedless  of  her  suffering — nay,  rather 
rejoicing  in  it— the  evil  expression  came  across  D'Almayne's  face  as, 
in  a  tone  of  sarcastic  triumph,  he  exclaimed, — 

"  You  love  him !  I  was  certain  of  it,  and  am  fully  avenged. 
Chained  by  your  marriage  vow  to  a  decrepid  imbecile,  while  you 
love  another  with  all  the  depth  and  fire  of  your  passionate  nature, 
you  will  experience  the  torments  of  the  damned.  To  the  remorse 
and  despair  these  reflections  will  engender, — a  despair  so  desolating 
that  you  will  live  to  regret  even  your  decision  of  this  morning, — 
I  leave  you.  When  your  husband  returns  to-night,  a  ruined  man, 
remember  my  words — the  curse  that  you  have  brought  upon  yourself 
v/ill  have  begun  to  work  ! " 

Unable  to  reply,  Kate  remained  leaning  back,  her  eyes  fixed  upon 
him  with  a  kind  of  horrible  fascination.  Leisurely  drawing  on  his 
gloves,  he  appeared  to  be  feasting  his  gaze  with  the  misery  he  had 
created ;  then,  casting  on  her  a  look  of  sardonic  malevolence  that  a 
fiend  might  have  emulated,  but  could  scarcely  have  surpassed,  he 
turned  and  quitted  the  apartment,  and  immediately  afterwards  the 
house. 

Kate's  reflections  after  D'Almayne  had  left  her  may  easily  be 
imagined ;  all  feelings  of  resentment  against  the  man  who  had 
insulted  her  were  merged  in  the  one  thought  that  her  cousin,  Arthur 
Hazlehurst,  had  been  her  brother's  unknown  benefactor.  When  she 
had  imagined  him  implacably  offended  at  the  unjustifiable  manner 
in  which,  during  their  last  interview,  she  had  treated  him,  he  was 
still  watching  over  her  interests,  and  with  a  chivalrous  devotion  to 
the  remembrance  of  their  former  attachment  (for  such  could  be  the 
only  kindly  sentiment  he  could  now  cherish  towards  her),  he  had 
come  forward  and  saved'^her  brother  from  the  ruin  which  had 
appeared  inevitable.  She  had  received  a  note  that  morning  from 
Frederick,  informing  her  of  his  retuiii  from  the  Continent,  and 
stating  his  intention  of  ^payingjher  a  visit  immediately,  adding  that 
he  had  obtained  his  benefactor's  sanction  to  tell  her  to  whom  he  was 
indebted  for  his  present  good  fortune,  and  all  other  particulars  she 
might  wish  to  learn.  While  thus  engaged,  a  knock  at  the  door 
announced  a  visitor,  and  in  another  moment  her  brother's  arms  were 
thrown  around  her.  Sixlmonths'  foreign  travel,  and  daily  association 
with  persons  mixing  in  fgood  society,  had  produced  a  great  change 
in  Fred  Marsden's  appearance  :  the  handsome  boy  had  become  a  fine 
manly  young  fellow,  whose  frank  address  and  courteous  manners 
were  cei'tain  to  ensure  him'Ja  kindly  welcome  and  greatly  increase 
his  chances  of  success  injlife.  Fred  had  much  to  tell,  and  found  an 
eager  listener  in  Kate.  Arthur  was  the  best,  kindest,  wisest,  most 
generous  of  men ;  Arthur  had  sent  him  abroad  more  to  finish  his 
education  than  for  any  iTselhe  could  be  of  in  a  business  point  of  view ; 

c  c 


386  HARRY  COVERDALE'S  COURTSHIP 

Arthur  was  most  liberal  to  him  in  money  matters ;  and  yet  supei-ior 
as  lie  was  in  evei-ything — talent,  age,  position — Arthur  treated  him 
like  an  equal,  nay,  like  a  brother. 

While  he  thiis  ran  on,  a  cab  drove  up  to  the  door,  and  shortly  after 
Mr.  Crane  entered  the  apartment ;  he  appeared  to  walk  feebly,  and 
once  staggered,  and  nearly  fell  in  crossing  the  room.  Glancing 
angrily  towards  Fred,  he  muttered, "  Send  that  boy  away,  Mrs.  Crane 
— I— I  wish  to  speak  with  you  on  matters  of  importance." 

Hastily  dismissing  her  brother— promising  to  \vi-ite  him  word 
when  to  come  again— Kate  returned  to  her  husband.  "  Tou  look 
ill  and  won-ied,"  she  said  ;  "  let  me  fetch  you  a  glass  of  wine  and  a 
biscuit." 

"  111  and  won-ied  indeed !  I  tell  you,  Mrs.  Crane,  I  have  tbis  day 
received  my  death  blow.  Don't  reply,  madam ;  don't  mock  me  with 
any  pretence  of  affection — I  know  its  worth.  Tou  married  me  for 
my  money — I  am  not  so  blind  as  you  may  imagine — yes  !  you  maiTied 
me  for  my  money ;  and  now  you  are  rightly  served,  for  I  am  a  ruined 
man.  Tou  may  well  stare  and  look  surprised,  for  I  can  scarcely 
believe  it  myself.  Oh,  it  is  too  cruel — hon-ible,  to  think  that  I, 
Jedediah  Crane,  whose  name  has  been  good  for  five  hundred  thousand 
pounds  any  day,  should  die  a  beggar,!  "  Here  he  paused,  and  broke 
into  a  fit  of  childish  weeping ;  after  a  time  he  again  resumed  angrily, 
"  And  for  this,  madam,  I  have  chiefly  to  thank  your  precious  admirer, 
Horace  D'Almayne  ;  my  money  was  safe  enough  till  he  led  me  on  to 
speculate ;  and  I  believe  your  arts  and  allui-ements  were  the  chief 
cause  that  attracted  him  here.  But  your  wickedness  has  brought 
its  own  punishment,  for  you  must  work  for  your  living  now — you 
and  all  your  pauper  family,  whom  you  have  supported  out  of  my 
pocket;  and  as  for  D'Almayne,  may  the  bitterest  curses  light  upon 

him — may "    Here,  siiddenly  breaking  off,  he  stared  roimd  him 

wildly,  raised  his  hand  to  his  forehead,  murmured,  "  Oh,  my  head  !  " 
and  sank  back  in  his  chair.  Greatly  alai-med,  Kate  rang  the  bell 
violently,  and  whilst  the  butler  and  another  servant  conveyed  Mr. 
Crane  to  his  room,  she  dispatched  a  third  in  search  of  medical 
assistance.  That  evening  Ai-thur  Hazlehurst  received  the  following 
note : — 

"In  the  unpardonable  pnde  which  has  been  my  besetting  sin 
through  life,  but  to  which,  if  suffering  can  eradicate  faults,  I  ought 
never  again  to  yield,  I  requested  you  not  to  enter  my  house  imtil  I 
sent  for  you ;  deeming,  when  I  said  it,  that  I  was  pronouncing  a 
sentence  of  banishment  which  would  continue  in  effect  as  long  as  we 
should  both  survive.  Having  placed  this  bar  between  myself  and 
the  generous  friendship  you  have  always  evinced  for  me,  I  dare  not 
now  ask  your  assistance ;  but  if  in  the  gi-eat  strait  in  which  I  am 
placed  you  would  advise  me  to  whom  I  ought  to  apply,  you  will  be 
rendering  me  a  kindness  I  have  little  deserved  at  your  hands.  Mr. 
Crane  returned  home  this  evening  greatly  excited,  and  declared  that 


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  387 

lie  was  a  ruined  man  ;  whilst  still  raving  almost  incoherently  on  the 
subject,  he  was  attacked  with  paralysis,  and  now  lies  in  a  state  which 
the  two  physicians  I  have  called  in  inf  oi-m  me  is  in  the  highest  degree 
critical.  He  has  recovered  his  conscioiisness,  but  his  speech  is  so 
much  affected  that  I  can  only  collect  that  his  mind  is  still  troubled 
by  business  details.  I  am  not  aware  of  the  name  of  his  legal  adviser, 
nor,  indeed,  certain  whether  he  was  in  the  habit  of  consulting  one. 
I  await  your  reply  with  much  anxiety. 

"Kate  Crane." 

Within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  he  received  this  note  Arthur 
Hazlehurst  was  in  Park  Lane. 


CHAPTER  LXV. 

SETTLES   EVERYBODY   AND   EVERYTHING. 

PiVE  years  had  elapsed  since  the  events  narrated  in  the  last  chapter 
occurred — five  years  ! — a  twentieth  portion  of  one  of  those  centuries 
which  stand  like  milestones  along  the  path  of  time  and  index  the 
slow  but  steady  march  of  human  progress  and  development.  To  the 
different  characters  of  our  story  these  years  had  brought  many 
changes.  Arthur  Hazlehurst,  summoned  by  Kate  Crane  in  her  hour 
of  need  and  difficulty,  fully  justified  the  high  o]3inion  she  entertained 
of  him.  Aijplying  all  the  powers  of  his  acute  intellect  and  legal 
experience  to  the  involved  affairs  of  Mr.  Crane,  he  contrived  to  secure 
a  small  competency  from  the  wreck  of  his  once  colossal  fortune,  on 
which,  by  Arthur's  advice,  Kate,  as  soon  as  her  husband  was 
sufficiently  recovered  to  bear  the  joiu'ney,  retired  to  a  small  town  in 
the  south  of  France,  where  she  continued  to  reside  until  some 
arrangement  could  be  effected  with  the  shareholders  of  the  railway 
company  started  by  Monsieur  Guillemard  and  Horace  DAlmayne. 
After  a  severe  illness,  from  which  he  was  at  one  time  not  expected  to 
recover,  Mr.  Crane  partially  regained  his  health,  but  the  paralytic 
stroke  which  had  reduced  him  to  this  extremity  had  aifected  his 
mind  to  such  a  degree  that  he  remained  nearly  cliildish.  His  wife's 
attention  to  him  was  most  kind  and  devoted.  When  he  was  able  to 
walk  out  for  the  finest  half  hour  in  the  day  it  was  Kate's  arm  which 
supported  his  tottering  footsteps.  So  strong  was  her  sense  of  the 
duty  she  owed  him,  that  the  tenderest  affection  could  not  have  dic- 
tated a  more  exemplary  line  of  conduct.  Arthur  Hazlelnirst,  who 
was  rapidly  acquiring  a  very  high  standing  in  his  profession,  paid 


SSS  HARRY  COTERDALE'S   COrRTSHIP 

them  occasional  visits,  to  report  as  to  the  siare  of  ilr.  Crane's  aSairs, 
■w-hicli  were  left  entirely  to  his  control.  His  manner  to  Kate  on  snch 
occasions  was  that  of  a  kind  and  judicious  friend,  but  nothing'  more. 
He  never  niade  the  least  allusion  to  old  times :  indeed,  his  avoidance 
of  any  approach  to  topics  which  might  elicit  the  slightest  display  of 
feeling  was  most  marked,  yet  a  close  observer  might  have  seen  that 
he  noticed  Kate's  every  word  and  action,  especially  her  behaviour  to 
her  husband,  with  a  keenness  of  scrutiny  which  allowed  nothing  to 
escape  it.  Of  Horace  D'Almayne  nothing  more  was  known  than  that 
he  had  somehow  ehided  the  search  made  after  him,  and  got  clear 
away,  as  it  was  supposed,  to  America. 

We  will  now  trouble  the  imagination  of  our  readers  to  travel  with 

ns  as  far  as  H shire,  and  join  a  group  gathered  one  fine  autxtmn 

morning  around  the  hall  door  at  Coverdale  Park.  The  centre  of  it, 
and  the  especial  object  of  interest  to  the  bystanders,  was  a  rough 
little  Shetland  pony,  on  which  was  mounted  a  singularly  pretty  boy 
of  some,  possibly,  four  years  of  age,  in  whose  chubby  features  might 
te  traced  a  marked  resemblance  both  to  Harry  and  Alice,  the  farmer 
of  whom  was  settling  the  reins  in  the  child's  hand,  and  giving  Tiim 
directions  both  how  to  sit  and  to  manage  the  pony,  while  the  latter 
was  regarding  the  young  equestrian  with  looks  of  mingled  anxiety 
and  affection.  A  sweet  little  girl,  the  image  of  her  mother,  perhaps 
a  year  older  than  her  youthful  playfellow,  was  endeavouring  to 
attract  the  pony's  attention  towards  a  tuft  of  grass,  which  she  held 
at  a  respectful  'iistance  from  his  nose. 

"  Xow,  my  boy,  stick  your  knees  well  into  the  saddle,  give  bim  his 
head,  and  let  us  see  how  you  can  canter  round  the  sweep,"  observed 
Coverdale,  who,  save  that  his  complexion  had  assumed  a  more  manlj 
brown  than  ever,  and  that  his  broad  shoulders  looked  broader  stDl, 
was  little  altere<i  since  we  last  had  to  do  with  bim. 

"Dear  Harry,  you  will  not  let  him  go  by  himself — suppose  he 
should  tumble  off  I  " 

Alice,  the  speaker,  whose  rounded  fignre  and  matronly  air  only 
added  to  her  beauty,  smiled  at  her  own  fears,  as.  placing  his  arm 
round  her  still  tap^  waist,  her  imsband  replied, — 

"  We  are  to  be  frightened  about  otit  dear  boy  now,  are  we  ?  What 
a  miaerable  little  woman  it  is,  and  how  she  does  delight  in  torment- 
ing herself !  Why,  you  silly  child,  little  Harry  has  as  good  a  seat  as 
I  have.  He  would  be  no  son  of  mine  if  he  could  not  ride  by  instinct. 
Hollo  1  what  is  the  young  dog  at  now  ?  he  never  can  mean  to  try  and 
leap  that  ditch,  surely  I " 

And  as  he  spoke  Coverdale  ran  off  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  to  secure 
the  safety  of  his  self-willed  son  and  heir,  who,  having  cantered  round 
the  grass  plot,  coolly  turned  his  pony's  head  towards  a  low  haw-haw 
which  separated  the  garden  from  the  park  bejond.  Before  his 
father  had  half  crossed  the  lawn,  he  slackened  the  reins,  and,  giTing 
his  pony  a  cut  with  the  whip,  cleared  the  smiken  fence  with  greater 
ease  than  many  of  his  elders  with  whom  we  are  acquainted  conid 


AND   ALL   THAT   CA3IE  OF  IT  38» 

Lave  done,  then  tumingr,  cantered  back  throngh  a  band-gate  wMch 
stood  open,  and  rejoined  his  motHer  and  sister. 

"  Ho-w  c-onld  TOTX  do  sucli  a  dangerous  thing.  Harnr  'i  Ton  might 
hare  broken  your  neck,  and  I  am  very  angry  -witli  yon ! "  exclaimed 
Alice. 

'■  And  wliat  do  yon  say,  papa  ?  '"  inqnired  tbe  yoimg  hopeful,  in  no 
way  abashed  by  his  mother's  reprimand. 

"  What  do  I  say  ?  ""  returned  his  father,  coming  np  out  of  breath 
with  running,  and  considerably  i>erple5ed  between  his  parental 
responsibility  and  his  delight  at  his  boy's  spirit ;  "  why,  I  say  that  if 
you  don't  mind  what  your  mother  tells  you,  the  thrashing  I  shall 
give  you  one  of  these  days  will  considerably  astonish  your  jurenile 
intelligence ;  with  which  qualification  I  confess,  taking  you  alto- 
gether, I  consider  you  a  very  promising  young  four-year-old.  And 
now,  brats,  be  o5  with  yon  !  I  hare  got  a  letter  which  I  want  to  talk 
to  Tnamma  about.'' 

As  soon  as  the  children  had  departed,  in  conToy  of  a  groom  and  a 
nnrsoy-maid,  Harry  drew  from  his  pocket  a  letter  with  a  black 
border  and  seal. 

"  It  is  for  you,  love."  he  said,  "  from  your  cousin  Kate  ;  but  I  can 
tell  you  the  news  it  will  contain ;  Arthur  enclosed  it  to  me,  with  a  line, 
telling  me  that  poor  old  Crane  is  dead  at  last." 

••  And  Arthur  writes  to  teU  you — what  does  he  say  r "'  demanded 
Alice  eagerly. 

"  He  siniply  informs  me  of  the  fact ;  states  that,  for  business 
reasons,  Kate,  who  is  left  sole  executrix,  must  immediately  return  to 
England ;  and  suggests  that  till  some  i)ermanent  arrangement  can 
be  made  for  her,  it  would  be  weUthat  she  should  cx^me  to  us  :  adding, 
that  if  we  agree  with  him  in  thinking  so,  he  would  be  glad  if  I  could 
make  it  convenient  to  go  down  to  Dover  and  meet  her,  as  profes- 
sional duties  will  detain  bim  in  town. — ^which  of  course  I  shall  be 
delighted  to  do,  and  she  must  come  and  live  with  us,  poor  thing." 

Alice  could  not  for  a  moment  reply ;  but  she  pressed  her  husband's 
hand  in  silent  acknowledgment  of  his  kindness.  Another  week  saw 
Kate  domesticated  bene-ath  their  hospitable  roof. 

Header,  our  tale  is  weU-nigh  told.  Horace  D'Ahnayne  had 
absconded  with  a  considerable  sum  of  money  in  his  possession,  and 
all  attempts  to  trace  him  failed.  His  less  fortunate  co-swindler  (if 
we  may  coin  a  word),  Guillemard,  became  practically  acquaint-ed  with 
the  interior  of  a  British  prison  and  the  amenitiK  of  haz^d  labour. 
All  that  transpired  in  regard  to  D'Almayne's  forther  career  "was,  tliat 
some  years  after  he  was  connected  with  a  kindred  spirit  in  oondnct- 
ing  a  notorious  gambling  house  in  X ew  Orleans ;  a  quarrel  ensuing 
between  Sedgwick  (for  so  was  his  paitnar  named)  and  D'Ahnayne, 
the  latter  gave  his  antagonist  a  practical  l^ecai  as  to  the  advisability 
of  studying  the  habits  and  customs  of  the  natives  before  you  settle 
in  a  country,  by  discharging  the  contents  of  his  revolver  into  his 


390  HARRY  COVERDALE'S   COURTSHIP 

ribs.  Unfortunately  for  society,  the  wound  did  not  prove  fatal ;  but 
not  choosing  to  await  the  result,  D'Ahnayne  again  made  himself  in- 
visible ;  he  was  last  heard  of  at  the  head  of  a  band  of  very  question- 
able individuals,  who  were  proceeding  to  the  diggings  to  procure 
gold,  whether  by  fair  means  or  foul,  history  sayeth  not. 

Lord  Alfred  Courtland,  warned  by  the  disastrous  results  of  his 
attempt  to  become  a  fast  "  man-about-town,"  contented  himself  for 
the  future  by  fulfilling  his  duties  as  a  high-born  gentleman,  and  if  he 
ever  did  anything  at  all  likely  to  disgrace  his  noble  order,  it  was  by 
the  obstinate  determination  he  evinced  to  marry  none  other  than 
Emily  Hazlehurst ;  but  "  a  wilful  man  must  have  his  way,"  and 
eventually,  after  much  useless  opposition  from  his  patrician  papa, 
Lord  Alfred  had  his. 

Of  Harry  and  Alice  we  need  say  no  more ;  perfectly  happy  in  each 
other's  aif ection  (which,  warned  by  the  past,  they  never  again  suffered 
their  faults  or  foibles  to  endanger),  theirs  was  a  joy  to  which  only 
hearts,  true,  pure,  and  simple  as  their  own  can  ever  attain. 

And  what  of  Arthur  Hazlehu.rst  ?  Kate,  his  first,  his  only  love, 
was  again  free ! — true,  she  had  eiTed  deeply,  but  had  she  not  repented 
more  deeply,  and  worked  out  her  penitence  during  long  years  of  trial 
and  of  suffering  ?  She  was  free !  would  wounded  pride  prevent  him 
from  taking  the  only  step  which  could  ensure  his  happiness  and  her 
own  ?  or  should  "  Love  be  still  the  lord  of  all  ?  "  Those  only  who 
have  siiffered  and  loved  as  he  had  done  can  be  competent  to  decide, — 
and  in  their  hands  we  leave  the  matter  ! 


THE   END. 


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